Category Sourcing Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Founded in 1954, Vibrant Ingredients is a leading provider of natural, clean label ingredients and systems that power extraordinary food and beverage experiences. The company’s broad portfolio — including natural flavors, botanical extracts, functional nutrition, cold brew coffee, tea essences, and food protection solutions — enhances taste, texture, color, shelf life, and performance across a wide range of applications. Vibrant operates four state-of-the-art facilities across the United States and works with leading brands, manufacturers, and foodservice operators. With vertically integrated capabilities and a proven track record of innovation and execution, Vibrant helps customers accelerate to market without compromise.

About the role:

We are a trusted partner to our customers when it comes to innovation and an industry leader in clean label ingredients, we are a true partner. We collaborate with our customers in ways that respect people and the environment. A commitment to Purely Better™ drives our innovation team to discover new, on trend solutions. 

As a Category Sourcing Manager,  they will be responsible for developing and executing enterprise-wide sourcing strategies for key ingredients and packaging materials to support business growth while driving cost efficiencies, supply continuity, and continuous improvement. This role leads local, regional, and international sourcing initiatives to deliver long-term competitive advantages across the organization.

As a strategic partner to Supply Chain, Operations, R&D, Quality, Finance, and Sales, the Strategic Sourcing Manager plays a critical role in supplier strategy, risk mitigation, innovation enablement, and contract management. This position reports directly to the Vice President of Procurement.

  How will you contribute:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Essential job functions and duties include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and implement category sourcing strategies that ensure consistent supply, timely   delivery, and high-quality materials aligned with business requirements
• Act as lead strategist to leverage enterprise scale and drive cost efficiencies across spend categories with a continuous improvement mindset
• Achieve competitive pricing advantages through market intelligence, including domestic and international macroeconomic factors
• Proactively identify and capitalize on opportunistic market conditions within assigned categories
• Identify, evaluate, and execute sourcing opportunities while mitigating supply risk and ensuring supply chain stability
• Serve as Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM), fostering strong partnerships across the local and global supply base
• Act as the primary interface between Vibrant Ingredients and assigned suppliers
• Optimize the supply base to support continuity, scalability, innovation, and long-term growth
• Lead negotiations for long-term supply agreements that deliver sustainable competitive advantage
• Manage contracts and master supply agreements, ensuring compliance with pricing, quality, and delivery requirements
• Coordinate logistics activities with suppliers, including inland freight, ocean freight, and import/export processes when applicable
• Collaborate with R&D and Quality to identify, qualify, and approve new materials, technologies, and suppliers
• Ensure sourced ingredients meet all product specifications, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and customer-specific needs
• Conduct supplier evaluations and drive performance improvement initiatives across the supply base
• Partner cross-functionally to support evolving business needs and strategic initiatives

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, or related discipline
• Minimum of 8–10 years of experience in procurement and strategic sourcing, with strong category management expertise
• Highly preferred experience sourcing agricultural products, food ingredients, and packaging materials
• Ideal category experience includes Tea, Coffee, Botanicals, or Fruits & Vegetables
• Strong financial and business acumen, including PPV management, P&L impact, cash flow optimization, spend analysis, and supply/demand forecasting
• Extensive knowledge of import/export processes and trade compliance
• Demonstrated ability to build, evaluate, and manage a reliable global supplier network
• Proven success in complex contract negotiations
• Strong leadership and team-building capabilities, with the ability to coach and mentor
• Ability to influence stakeholders, manage ambiguity, and demonstrate resilience
• Strong project management skills supporting cross-functional initiatives
• Data-driven decision-maker capable of analyzing complex data sets quickly
• Excellent interpersonal, conflict management, communication, and presentation skills
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., Microsoft Business Central, Great Plains, or similar platforms)
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Ability to travel up to 10% or more as required

  Preferred Experience & Education

• Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, or related discipline
• 6+ years of experience sourcing Tea, Coffee, Fruits & Vegetables
• 8+ years of experience sourcing packaging materials
• 10+ years of experience in food manufacturing environments
• 10+ years of experience working in or with foodservice organizations
• 10+ years of experience working in or with consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies
• Professional certification such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

Work Environment:

• May involve exposure to allergens such as Soy, Wheat, Fish, Shellfish, Milk, Egg, Tree Nuts and Sesame.

What Vibrant Ingredients can offer you:

• Generous time off for vacations
• Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Tuition reimbursement
• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Health & Wellness programs

More about us:

Vibrant Ingredients, headquartered in Lake Mary, FL, is one of the world's leading independent providers of natural ingredients. With a legacy spanning over 70 years, we deliver a diverse portfolio of clean label ingredients and innovative system solutions to the food and beverage industry. Our commitment to quality and performance is reflected in our American-made products, which enhance both taste and functionality. Backed by advanced manufacturing capabilities, we specialize in fermentation, patented cold brew extraction, custom flavor development, and a range of drying and blending technologies. Operating from four state-of-the-art facilities strategically located across the U.S., we ensure the accessibility of real, high-quality ingredients—helping our customers create better-for-you food and beverage for consumers.

"Improving the food and beverages consumed by providing real ingredients from nature that work."

This position is currently classified as on-site.

Employees are eligible to participate in Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k), Holidays, Vacation, Tuition Reimbursement Program.

The final salary offered for this position may take into account a number of factors including, but not limited to, location, skills, education, and experience.

The Company reserves the right to modify, update, change and/or make corrections to this job description, at the sole discretion of senior management, at any time during the employee’s employment term, at the sole discretion of management.

EEO Statement

Vibrant Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer committed to employing a diverse workforce and providing accommodations for people with disabilities in all parts of the hiring process as required under its Employment Accommodation Policy. Vibrant Ingredients will work with applicants to meet accommodation needs that are made known to Vibrant Ingredients in advance.

 

**Please no external recruiters**