Category Specialist

North American Distillers – Role Overview North American Distillers (NADL) is part of Pernod Ricard, a global premium spirits and wine company. The company manufactures award‑winning American whiskeys and is behind leading brands such as ABSOLUT, Jameson, Malibu, Kahlúa, and The Glenlivet. Salary Range: $61,300.00 to $76,570.00 (based in Louisville, KY; may vary if role outside this location). Position Summary This role is responsible for managing assigned packaging categories with a focus on supply continuity, cost optimization, supplier relationship management, and long‑term category planning across Pernod Ricard North America manufacturing facilities and co‑packers. The position serves as a strategic business partner to Operations, Quality, Innovation, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to proactively manage procurement activities, mitigate supply risks, support innovation initiatives, and deliver value through strategic sourcing and financial discipline. The role balances operational execution with increasingly strategic responsibilities as part of Pernod Ricard's long‑term procurement transformation agenda. Key Responsibilities Category Ownership & Strategic Sourcing Own assigned packaging categories and act as the primary procurement lead for category strategy development Build annual category sourcing plans aligned with business objectives Conduct market intelligence, supplier benchmarking, and cost analysis to proactively identify opportunities and risks Develop supplier diversification strategies to reduce sole‑source exposure Lead sourcing events, negotiations, and contract execution for assigned categories Supply Continuity & Risk Management Proactively monitor supplier capacity, inventory levels, and operational risks across manufacturing plants and co‑packers Develop contingency plans and alternative sourcing strategies to ensure uninterrupted supply Identify and elevate supply risks before they impact operations Partner with operations and supply planning teams on demand forecasting and inventory optimization Financial Ownership Support annual budgeting processes for assigned categories Monitor purchase price variance against budget assumptions Identify cost mitigation strategies related to inflation, commodity volatility, freight, and supplier changes Drive working capital initiatives including payment term optimization, MOQ improvements, and inventory reduction opportunities Supplier Relationship Management Manage strategic supplier relationships focused on long‑term performance Conduct supplier performance reviews Lead supplier development initiatives around quality, service, innovation, and cost competitiveness Collaborate with suppliers on continuous improvement opportunities Innovation / NPD Support Partner with Innovation, Packaging Development, and Operations teams to support commercialization timelines Manage supplier quoting timelines Ensure procurement readiness for product launches Identify supply risks that may impact launch execution Procurement Excellence & Analytics Maintain procurement dashboards and reporting tools Track contract coverage Support savings pipeline tracking Improve data visibility for leadership decision‑making Identify automation opportunities within procurement workflows Cross‑Functional Leadership Operations Quality Finance Innovation Supply Planning Global Procurement Skills & Requirements Bachelor's Degree and Purchasing/Supply Management certification is preferred. Minimum of 3 years experience in strategic sourcing/procurement of a CPG company in a packaging environment. Strong influencing, partnering, and communication skills at multiple levels and disciplines. Excellent problem‑solving, analytical, and detail skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with focus on advanced Excel. Willingness to travel approximately 15% (Canada & U.S.). NADL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It employs qualified individuals based solely on ability, training, and experience, and does not and will not discriminate for or against any employee or applicant for employment or promotion based upon race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service or any other classification protected by law. Offers will be subject to United States local terms. NADL is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Pernod Ricard USA will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. #J-18808-Ljbffr