Strategic Sourcing Manager – Brands+

Job Overview:

The Strategic Sourcing Manager is responsible for developing and executing category-level sourcing strategies that optimize cost, supply resilience, and long-term value. This role serves as a strategic partner to cross-functional teams by leveraging market intelligence, analytics, and supplier strategy to influence sourcing decisions. The position focuses on forward-looking analysis and value creation rather than day-to-day procurement execution.

The Manager of Procurement is responsible for coordinating all buying activities to ensure achievement of all department, distribution center, and company financial objectives. Ensures that the highest standards of professional integrity are maintained throughout the assigned department. This position has full accountability for fill rate, days on hand inventory, production and shrink targets for assigned DCs. Responsible for supporting and developing team daily.

Job Responsibilities:

Core Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end sourcing strategy for assigned spend categories, aligning supplier strategies with business objectives, financial targets, and risk posture.
• Translate business requirements into multi-year category strategies that drive cost optimization, supply continuity, and value creation.
• Serve as the primary sourcing partner to Finance, Legal, Operations, and key business stakeholders for strategic initiatives.
• Identify and prioritize sourcing opportunities based on spend analysis, market intelligence, supplier performance, and business risk.
• Lead high-value, high-risk, or high-complexity sourcing initiatives, maintaining direct accountability for supplier selection, negotiation strategy, and award recommendations.
• Personally lead complex commercial negotiations and key supplier discussions where judgment, experience, and business impact are critical.
• Delegate execution of standard or lower-complexity sourcing events while retaining ownership of overall outcomes, timelines, and results.
• Act as the escalation point for sourcing challenges, supplier disputes, and performance issues that materially impact cost, risk, or operations.
• Drive supplier selection, onboarding, and rationalization efforts to optimize the supplier base and reduce complexity.
• Partner with Legal to lead contract negotiations for strategic agreements, ensuring favorable commercial and risk terms.
• Establish and monitor supplier performance metrics, leading corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives with key suppliers.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships to improve service levels, innovation, and long-term value.
• Own and deliver measurable sourcing outcomes, including cost savings, cost avoidance, and value-creation targets.
• Track and report sourcing performance against financial, operational, and risk KPIs.
• Ensure sourcing decisions support budget objectives and total cost of ownership optimization.
• Ensure sourcing activities comply with company policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify supply-side risks and lead mitigation strategies such as dual sourcing, contract protections, or contingency planning.
• Support audit and governance processes by maintaining clear sourcing documentation and decision rationale for strategic initiatives.
• Continuously evaluate and improve sourcing processes, tools, and methodologies to increase efficiency and scalability.
• Provide guidance and informal leadership to junior team members or cross-functional partners on sourcing best practices.
• Contribute to the development of sourcing standards, templates, and playbooks to enable consistent execution across the organization.
• Prepare and present sourcing strategies, recommendations, and results to senior leadership.
• Clearly articulate trade-offs, risks, and financial impacts of sourcing decisions to support informed decision-making.
  
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintains formal and informal channels of upward communication; encourages the expression of new ideas, suggestions, and complaints.
  
  

Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education/ Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred or equivalent experience.
  
  

Experience:

• 5 years of relevant experience.
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities

• Have strong knowledge of procurement and logistics processes.
• Knowledge of large-scale distribution networks.
• Deep understanding of grocery categories.
• Strong analytical and math skillset.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel.
• Capable of learning and utilizing multiple disparate systems.
• Ability to investigate and analyze information and to draw conclusions.
• Excellent problem-solving capabilities.
• Mindset of continuous improvement.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to use own judgement to make decisions and drive results.
• Can work independently as well as with a larger group
• Preferred SQL, Python, Alteryx, etc.
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.
  
  

Work Environment:

Remote Role:

• This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.
  
  

Travel (minor):

• This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.
  
  

Physical Environment/Demands:

Office Roles:

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.
• Woodstock Farms: Ability to work in an environment containing tree nuts, peanuts, soy, wheat, sesame, milk and different spices like pepper, chili, etc.
  
  

UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other protected ground. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the job selection process. - M/F/Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Compensation:

UNFI anticipates paying the above-referenced pay rate (or within the above-referenced pay range) for this position. Actual Pay, where applicable, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements. UNFI is committed to transparency in pay in compliance with applicable state and local laws.

Benefits:

For Washington positions (or positions that may be performed remotely from Washington), https://www.unfi.com/jobs-more-info-wa.html for Washington-specific paid time off details.

Candidates hired into this position will also be eligible to participate in the following benefits programs: Paid Time Off; Sick Time; paid holidays and parental leave; 401K Program; medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death/dismemberment insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance program, Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of these programs, and subject to any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements.

UNFI’s compensation, benefits, and paid time off policies are subject to change in the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with applicable law. This job posting should not be construed as an offer of employment with certain terms, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed minimum.

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act.