What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supply Chain Manager position at Bradford Soap Works Inc?
Position Description:
The Supply Chain Manager is a strategic and operational procurement leader responsible for sourcing materials supporting both the liquid and aerosol business units. This role combines hands-on buying responsibilities with leadership of sourcing initiatives, supplier management, and cross-functional collaboration.
The Supply Chain Manager will drive commodity strategies, lead supplier negotiations, and ensure continuity of supply while optimizing cost, quality, and service. This position plays a critical role in supporting production across multiple sites by proactively managing market trends, mitigating supply risks, and developing a resilient and high-performing supply base.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Sourcing Responsibilities:
- Lead sourcing strategy development for raw materials supporting liquid and aerosol product lines.
- Monitor commodity markets, industry trends, and global supply risks to proactively guide sourcing decisions.
- Develop and execute cost-reduction initiatives and long-term supplier agreements.
- Build and maintain strong strategic relationships with key suppliers to ensure supply continuity and innovation.
- Identify and qualify new suppliers to establish dual sourcing and reduce risk exposure.
- Establish, track, and report key procurement KPIs (cost savings, supplier performance, service levels, inventory turns).
- Lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives aligned with company growth and operational goals.
- Partner with Supply Chain leadership to align sourcing strategies with overall business objectives.
- Lead, develop, and manage the sourcing team, including setting objectives, monitoring performance, and providing ongoing coaching and development.
- Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability within the sourcing function to ensure efficient execution of procurement activities.
- Drive team alignment with organizational goals, fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Operational Responsibilities:
- Manage procurement of raw materials for liquid and aerosol manufacturing across all production sites.
- Negotiate pricing, contracts, and terms to achieve cost savings and favorable supply conditions.
- Maintain optimal inventory levels through effective planning of order quantities and delivery schedules.
- Collaborate closely with Production Planning to ensure material availability aligns with manufacturing schedules.
- Monitor demand changes and adjust purchasing activities accordingly.
- Manage supplier documentation including SDS/MSDS, specifications, and regulatory certifications.
- Support supplier issue resolution, returns, and corrective actions.
- Oversee customer-supplied materials where applicable.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within supply chain and operations.
- Oversee daily activities of the sourcing team to ensure timely procurement, issue resolution, and adherence to company policies and procedures.
- Review and approve purchasing decisions, supplier selections, and contract terms as appropriate.
Working Relationships
Internal:
- Partner with Planning, Operations, Sales/NPD, Warehouse, Accounting, Quality/Lab, and Marketing teams to ensure alignment on material supply and business needs.
External:
- Develop and manage relationships with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and service providers.
- Collaborate with vendors to improve performance, innovation, and service levels.
- Interface with customers regarding customer-supplied materials as needed.
Qualifications & Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field
- 5 years of sourcing or procurement experience, preferably in manufacturing (liquid and/or aerosol experience strongly preferred)
- Proven ability to lead sourcing initiatives and manage supplier relationships
- Strong analytical skills in commodity tracking, market analysis, and cost management
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel); ERP experience (Oracle preferred)
- Highly organized, self-driven, and results-oriented
- Ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment
- Strong ownership mindset with a hands-on, problem-solving approach
Work Environment:
- Primarily office-based with periodic exposure to manufacturing environments
- Limited travel for supplier visits, audits, or site support