Senior Procurement Manager

Position Location: Preferably on-site at a Bimbo QSR Location: Denver, Colorado; Valdosta, Georgia; or Zanesville, Ohio; Remote w/ Travel

Position Summary:

The Sr. Manager, Procurement leads strategic sourcing, contracting, and purchasing execution for multiple bakery manufacturing facilities, serving as the key link between global procurement strategy and plant-level execution in enterprise systems (e.g., SAP). This role owns the end-to-end contract-to-execution operating model for direct materials (ingredients and packaging) and selected indirect categories-translating global category strategies, supplier/contract frameworks, and compliance requirements into standardized processes, master data, and disciplined buying practices across sites. The position provides people leadership for a multi-site procurement team, drives cross-functional alignment with Operations, Supply Chain, Quality/Food Safety, R&D, and Finance, and is accountable for service, cost, and risk outcomes. A core focus is strengthening governance and process controls to improve supplier performance, ensure audit-ready documentation, enable accurate planning and ordering, and deliver measurable savings while protecting continuity of supply and regulatory compliance.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Own the link between global procurement strategy and bakery execution by translating category strategies, supplier segmentation, and contract frameworks into plant-level buying and operational plans.
• Lead the contract-to-execution lifecycle for direct materials: ensure contracts are operationalized in systems (e.g., SAP), pricing/terms are accurately maintained, and purchase order execution aligns to negotiated agreements and governance standards.
• Partner with Corporate/Global Procurement to shape and deploy contracting strategies (renewals, RFx events, negotiation strategies, preferred vendor programs) and drive plant compliance to contracted suppliers, pricing, and terms.
• Establish and enforce procurement process controls and standard work across bakeries (requisition-to-PO, release order management, confirmations, expediting, receipt issue resolution, and documentation) to improve service, reduce risk, and enable audit readiness.
• Provide multi-site people leadership: directly manage procurement analysts/planners, set performance expectations, coach/develop talent, and build analytics capability to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Complete replenishment reviews for ingredients and packaging in designated plants; maintain stocking policies and execution discipline including first expired-first out (FEFO).
• Execute release orders to approved suppliers based on purchasing contracts; track confirmations, follow up on orders, and expedite shipments as necessary to maintain inventory targets.
• Serve as the escalation point and key contact between bakeries and suppliers for all direct materials; communicate risks/opportunities and lead recovery actions to protect production continuity.
• Lead root cause analysis for material-related inefficiencies and service failures in partnership with Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain; implement corrective and preventive actions with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Drive supplier performance management, including quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with strategic suppliers; define and govern KPIs (on-time/in-full, fill rate, quality, lead time, responsiveness, cost adherence, corrective action closure) and hold suppliers accountable to improvement plans.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives for ingredients and raw materials, including supplier identification, qualification support, and total cost analysis (price, freight, lead time, and quality impacts).
• Monitor commodity and supplier cost drivers; identify and execute savings and value engineering initiatives without compromising food safety or quality.
• Using statistical analysis, partner cross-functionally to identify and resolve issues and opportunities relating to material deviations, yield loss, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Execute purchase orders in SAP and track confirmations to ensure timely receipt of ingredients and packaging into bakeries; ensure master data accuracy (specs, pricing, terms, MOQ, lead times) and resolve discrepancies.
• Utilizing forecast planning documents, lead packaging and ingredient transitions driven by innovation, packaging redesign, promotional activity, and product transfers; ensure supply continuity and controlled cutovers.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, R&D, Packaging Engineering, Logistics/Transportation, Quality/Food Safety, Finance, and Corporate Procurement to align plans, manage risk, and deliver business outcomes.
• Track and expedite incoming orders as needed to ensure continued production at the plants, including managing POs for co-manufacturers and coordinating with transportation partners.
• Oversee weekly cycle counts/physical inventory processes for raw materials and finished goods; drive inventory accuracy improvements and actionable variance resolution.

Key Behavioral Competencies:

• Strong understanding of bakery/manufacturing operations and how procurement decisions impact production, quality, maintenance, materials management, and food safety.
• Proven ability to lead through influence across multiple sites and functions, aligning stakeholders to global strategy while delivering day-to-day execution.
• Demonstrated capability to develop and deploy standardized processes, controls, and governance across distributed teams.
• Strategic and analytical mindset; ability to translate data into insights and actions using ERP and analytics tools (e.g., SAP, Excel/Power BI or similar).
• Strong negotiator and commercial leader with the ability to shape contracting strategies, influence outcomes, and maintain effective supplier relationships.
• High attention to detail with disciplined follow-through to ensure accuracy in master data, documentation, and execution of procurement processes.
• Demonstrated experience building and leading high-performing teams, including coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
• Ability to effectively manage and develop team members in distant locations and drive accountability through clear metrics and routines.
• Knowledge of process improvement tools (e.g., root cause analysis, standard work, visual management) and experience applying them in operations/procurement environments.
• Knowledge of safety and regulatory requirements; commitment to compliance with State, Federal, and Local regulations and internal food safety standards.
• Labor relations experience.

Education and Work History:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be substituted.
• 10+ years of progressive procurement/supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment, including strategic sourcing and contracting for direct materials (ingredients/packaging preferred).
• 3+ years of people leadership experience, ideally leading multi-site or distributed teams.
• Demonstrated experience operationalizing contracts in ERP systems (SAP preferred), including master data governance, pricing/terms maintenance, and purchase order compliance.
• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, written, and verbal communication skills; able to influence senior stakeholders and lead cross-functional decision-making.
• Proficient in Excel and SAP (or similar ERP); strong comfort with data analysis and performance metrics.
• Comfortable with change; adaptable and able to lead transformation and standardization initiatives.
• Team player able to work in a high volume, fast paced, and time sensitive environment.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate to solve issues and deliver measurable savings, service improvements, and risk reduction.
• Travel to plants is required (40%).

Physical Demands:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be requested to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Able to use a variety of communication methods on frequent basis.
• Use a notebook computer and standard office equipment printers, phone etc.
• Able to sit, stand, stoop and have use of hand motor coordination regularly.
• Use various forms of transportation for extended periods of time on periodic basis.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 40lbs as needed.