Reporting to the Controller, the Procurement Manager will have commercial responsibility for the manufacturing division’s entire portfolio of CAPEX, Direct, and Indirect spends. Under the leadership of the Manager, the company will achieve maximum value and savings from spend while balancing/enhancing other requirements such as quality, service, delivery, regulatory compliance, safety, and security of supply across 4 manufacturing locations.

As a “hands on” leader, the Manager will: set overall direction for the procurement function; lead the company’s strategic sourcing, contracting, and supplier management programs and ensure procurement operations are both compliant and efficient. The Manager will be a change agent and process improvement leader working closely with business and functional leaders to create and execute plans that drive productivity and cost reduction through the advancement of systems and process change and which will support a cost competitive business and enable future growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES:

Functional Leadership. Provide overall leadership to the sourcing and procurement function, with responsibility for: operating plans and budgets; policies, procedures, and systems; and reporting/communications with business units and senior management. Work with the senior leadership to create and effective and embedded strategic procurement culture in the entire manufacturing division.

Strategic Sourcing. Prioritize and execute strategic sourcing and category management in initiatives to support the objectives of the organization. Assess external market trends and conditions to identify opportunities and risks in managed spend categories. Structure analysis of managed spend to enable informed decision-making and change management with key stakeholders. Ensure sourcing efforts leverage market intelligence, eSourcing, should-cost modeling, advanced negotiation methods, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis.

Contracting. When applicable, manage the contract approval and exception processes, ensuring compliance for executed contracts. Manage BU/market/supplier risks with tailored legal terms and conditions. In collaboration with the CFO and legal support, create and maintain template master service agreements and standard terms and conditions for common and/or critical contracting situations.

Supplier Management. Create, implement and monitor an ongoing risk management program for vendors and suppliers. Collaborate with other functions, such as Quality and Compliance organizations to implement a comprehensive and appropriate supplier monitoring system. Establish, monitor and report key performance indicators (KPIs) to anticipate and minimize performance issues. Create systems to ensure that suppliers are performing to contracted obligations and service levels.

Procurement Operations. Provide professional procurement services to the company, including purchasing and administrative services. Manage the company’s procurement process; review and update procurement policies and procedures and ensure compliance with corporate purchasing requirements. Identify and maximize synergies and buying power with corporate procurement. Ensure ERP system data integrity through appropriate internal controls such as vendor master and material master.

Compliance. Ensure compliance to the laws, business guidelines, and ethical standards set by the company, local authorities, and government agencies.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Director will be experienced leading in rapidly changing environments and have most of the following experience:

• 3 years leadership in procurement and supply chain; experience in buying perishables is a plus
• 1 years of working experience in a Commodity Purchasing environment
• Mature understanding of integrated role of people, policies, processes, and systems necessary for sustained success in delivery of strategic and operational procurement services
• Expert understanding of, and deep experience with, multi-step strategic sourcing processes; sourcing activities measured in terms of implemented savings and always reflect TCO perspective
• Able to drive innovation in sensitive, challenging, or long-term supply relationships through capture of new sources of value or identification/creation of alternatives and substitutes
• Able to work up, down, and across field-based organizations; connects well at all levels, i.e., field, management, executives
• Expert-level financial, quantitative, and analytical skills
• Experience conducting business reviews of vendors and assessing the partnership
• Significant experience forecasting budgets and leading monthly, quarterly, and/or annual business planning processes; experience leveraging procurement data and market intelligence into strategic/corporate business planning processes
• Experience with Sage a plus

KEY CHARACTERISTICS:

The Director will also possess the following characteristics:

• Performance-driven leadership style with demonstrable experience personally driving or influencing successful results.
• Demonstrated excellence managing internal customers; works well across multiple locations
• A broad hands-on procurement background combined with experience driving a transformational and business focused procurement strategy.
• A natural mentor and recognized thought leader; demonstrated ability to attract and develop top talent within the supply chain profession
• A flexible, dynamic, self demanding and proactive individual
• Easily accepts constructive input from others
• Able to function as a working leader with the aptitude to execute as many tasks as delegated.

EDUCATION

• Bachelors degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
• Experience with ERP, spend analytics, eSourcing, contract management systems, supplier management, and strategic sourcing development and execution.

COMPANY PROFILE

Lipari Foods is a regional full-line deli, bakery, packaging, and grocery distributor, headquartered in Warren, MI. We are a premier store distributor, delivering 37,000 food and packaging products to 32 states and 14,000 retail accounts. We operate several manufacturing facilities from a USDA fresh food plant to facilities specializing in jar goods, cheese and confections. We are in your communities providing food to your stores and feeding your families and neighbors. And we are growing. Fast. In fact, Lipari Foods was recently named by Crain’s Business as one of the fastest growing companies in Michigan, and we’re not just growing in Michigan!

We are looking for talent with a can-do mindset, focused on growing a career, and interested in working on a diverse, dedicated team to create something greater collectively. Together, we are delivering more than great food to build a better tomorrow.

Lipari Foods LLC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.