Procurement Category Manager

Role Overview

The Procurement Category Manager will lead category strategy creation and execution for selected commodities and services. This position uses category management practices to improve supplier performance, deliver savings, encourage innovation, and align procurement activity with company-wide priorities and supply chain plans.

The role partners closely with sales, marketing, operations, and other internal teams, and manages important supplier relationships, including co-packers and indirect service providers.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and roll out category plans that include market research, spend review, sourcing, contract work, and continuous improvement actions.
• Oversee supplier relationships across co-packers, ingredients, components, and indirect goods and services.
• Find, onboard, and manage suppliers that can support current and future product needs while matching business requirements.
• Monitor production, inventory, quality, and food safety results for assigned co-pack products.
• Serve as the main point of contact between suppliers and internal stakeholders to keep communication clear and resolve issues quickly.
• Perform recurring supplier risk reviews and put continuity plans in place to reduce supply disruption.
• Prepare annual supplier budgets in partnership with the finance team.
• Address production problems and support process improvements that raise efficiency and performance.
• Lead sourcing work tied to business objectives, including RFP preparation, supplier negotiation, and contract development.
• Run regular business reviews with strategic suppliers, including scorecard checks, performance monitoring, and new development efforts.
• Make sure service expectations are met and respond promptly when performance falls short.
• Work with legal teams to draft, negotiate, and finalize supplier agreements.
• Track cost pressures and take proactive steps to limit or offset increases.
• Build supplier market analyses to compare sourcing options and supplier capabilities.
• Support marketing in sourcing new products and advancing innovation pipelines, including sample coordination and supplier evaluation.
• Coach, train, and develop Sourcing Specialists.
• Keep SAP S/4HANA records accurate, including material master data, vendor records, source lists, and info records.
• Monitor and report monthly KPIs.
• Ensure SOPs are documented, used correctly, and understood by the right teams.
• Assist procurement operations with purchase orders, expediting, and discrepancy resolution when needed.
• Take on additional related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a similar discipline is preferred.
• At least 8 years of experience in procurement and/or category management, or an equivalent mix of education and experience.
• 3 years of direct category management experience is preferred.
• Experience in co-packing or co-manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• Work history in purchasing, logistics, supply chain management, or marketing.
• Hands-on experience with SAP S/4HANA and strong Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel.
• A valid driver’s license or government-issued ID is required.
• Professional credentials such as CPSM, Project Management, or Lean Six Sigma are highly valued.
• For internal candidates, prior experience with Community Coffee may satisfy this requirement at the hiring manager’s discretion, with HR approval.
• Applicants should be able to work in a hybrid environment and travel up to 25%.
• Internet browser should be updated to the latest version to avoid application submission issues.

Foundational Competencies

• Ability to build trust
• Commitment to ongoing learning
• Customer-focused mindset
• Clear and effective communication
• High integrity
• Strong results orientation

Additional Competencies

• Resourceful problem-solving
• Accountability
• Collaboration
• Ability to take action
• Strong interpersonal adaptability

Physical Demands and Work Environment

This role is largely office-based. The successful candidate must be able to meet the physical requirements of the position, with reasonable accommodation available where appropriate.

• Frequent sitting, and frequent use of hands, tools, controls, speaking, and hearing.
• Occasional standing, walking, reaching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Occasional lifting or moving of up to 25 lbs.
• Vision requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception, along with the ability to adjust focus.
• The work setting is generally quiet.

Company Values

• Champion People
• Inspire Creativity
• Wow Our Customers
• Serve Our Communities
• Win Together

Benefits

The company provides a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as 401(k), short- and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, and an employee assistance program.

Equal Opportunity and Application Notice

The employer offers equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to protected characteristics under federal or state law. Reasonable accommodations can be provided for the hiring process and for performing essential job duties, as required by law.

This application remains active for 60 days only. If you remain interested after that period, a new application will be required.