Category Manager - Equipment, Facilities & Technical Procurement - Little Rock,

Dynamic, self-motivated and results oriented leader with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, and demonstrating exceptional communication skills. Adaptable and transformational manager with an ability to develop opportunities that further establish organizational goals.

Principal Job Functions:

• Develop sourcing Category Management plans (Aluminum Cans and/or Glass Bottles packaging for food beverage manufacturing) that analyze and calculate costs of procurement and use those category management plans to drive multi-year procurement plans and events to maintain flat to down raw material costs in inflationary environments.
• Source and assess potential trustworthy partners.
• Develop a system to evaluate partners to ensure quality, price, delivery, and service. Review periodically to ensure compliance to agreed-upon terms and conditions.
• Create and utilize multi-step sourcing processes that drive Best Value relationships with vendors, teaching those sourcing processes to direct reports and the Global Sourcing team to ensure Continuous Improvement in the supply chain.
• Works with packaging vendors to minimize waste and introduce higher quality/lower cost packaging options.
• Works with product development on the future of Ridged packaging and is partner on innovation and the introduction of new technologies.
• Executes contracts, RFI/RFP, proposals and vendor agreements for legal correctness, price, and acceptability of items to specifications.
• Interfaces and aligns with Global Sourcing Quality Assurance team to ensure specifications and standards are consistently met.
• Support commercialization of NPD (New Product Development) projects with sales team
• Liaise between Procurement and Manufacturing to ensure effective communication.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 8 years of years of experience in Category Management/Procurement, or Supply Chain Management, strong preference in the food and beverage manufacturing space or other consumer packaged goods.
• Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business. Higher degree a plus.
• Preferred Licensing or Certifications for Procurement Category Manager: CPSM, CPM, PMP, MCIPS, CPIM, APICS, C.P.M, DOT, ISM, CIRM.
• Experience in packaging, preferably in a food and/or beverage manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing a diverse set of external vendors, including sourcing, managing contracts, risk management, forecasting, developing category strategies, and manufacturing relationships.
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, NetSuite or other similar ERP systems).
• Ability to work in fast paced high pressure environment where change is constant and needs to be managed with internal and external customers.
• Financial understanding of P&L and ability to drive results for bottom line profit.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Vets / Disabled