What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supply Chain Manager position at Vets Plus, Inc.?
Summary of the Position: The Supply Chain Manager is responsible for leading the company's end-to-end supply chain, including strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, production planning, inventory management, supplier performance, and logistics. This role will develop and execute supply chain strategies that ensure material availability, optimize inventory, reduce costs, mitigate risk, and support business growth.
The Supply Chain Manager will lead all sourcing and contract negotiations, including New Product Introduction (NPI) initiatives, oversee procurement activities across all product categories, and drive supply chain performance through KPI reporting and continuous improvement. This position directly supervises the Supply Chain Specialist and partners closely with Operations, Planning, Quality, R amp;D, Sales, Marketing, and Finance.
Key Responsibilities:
Supply Chain Leadership
• Manage and optimize the end-to-end supply chain from sourcing through production and delivery.
• Develop and execute supply chain strategies that support company growth, operational efficiency, and customer service goals.
• Lead and develop the team while establishing scalable processes and best practices.
Strategic Sourcing amp; Procurement
• Lead all sourcing, supplier selection, contract negotiations, and supplier relationship management activities.
• Develop and execute category management strategies across ingredients, packaging, contract manufacturing, and indirect spend categories.
• Identify, qualify, and maintain primary and secondary suppliers to ensure supply continuity and risk mitigation.
• Drive cost savings and value creation through strategic supplier partnerships and sourcing initiatives.
New Product Introduction (NPI)
• Lead sourcing efforts for all new product launches.
• Partner with R amp;D and Quality to identify and qualify new suppliers, materials, and manufacturing partners.
• Ensure supply readiness and successful commercialization of new products.
Planning amp; Inventory Management
• Collaborate with the Planning team to develop production schedules that align demand, inventory, and manufacturing capacity.
• Oversee MRP-driven purchasing and inventory replenishment activities.
• Establish inventory policies, safety stock targets, and supply plans that balance service levels and working capital objectives.
• Conduct demand forecasting and analyze customer forecasts for supply planning.
Supplier amp; Performance Management
• Manage supplier performance related to quality, cost, delivery, service, and compliance.
• Develop and maintain supply chain KPIs and reporting dashboards.
• Monitor key metrics, identify improvement opportunities, and lead corrective actions to drive operational excellence.
Required Skills:
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of procurement, inventory management, demand planning, and category management principles.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and project management skills.
Education and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Industrial Engineering, Operations, or related field.
• 3 years of progressive experience in supply chain, sourcing, procurement, planning, or operations within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading supplier negotiations, contract management, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Experience supporting new product introductions and managing supplier relationships.
• ERP/MRP system experience required.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
• Direct supervision of the Supply Chain Specialist, Scheduler and Receiving team.