Sr. Category Manager

About The Role

The Sr. Category Procurement Manager will lead the Meat Upstream Procurement Category, with responsibilities over procurement operational activities, procurement strategy management, supplier relationship management. This role will be key in ensuring effective stakeholder engagement is delivered to all dependant businesses for the meat category.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for developing, implementing and managing the Downstream Meat Category strategy which will align and support the North American Meat Procurement strategy and initiatives and effectively support the businesses that are supported by the Meat Category.
• Develop and execute sourcing and tendering strategies for categories that have an extreme level of complexity taking into account the scale, strategic importance, level of risk, bespoke, commercial model structure, number of suppliers and pricing variables within the responsible categories.
• Build deep raw material expertise and industry knowledge across the spend categories and be the procurement expert and trusted key advisor to stakeholders across the business.
• Maintain strong cross-functional relationships between Procurement and other key functions, RD&A, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, etc.
• Lead development and implementation of the categories risk mitigation strategies for Market Volatility and Security of Supply. Ensure data validity and reporting within their categories is correct.
• Manage all aspects of supplier risk (price, quality, supply, etc.) while securing Total Cost of Ownership (PIP) reductions by launching cross functional cost improvement initiatives.
• Manage and build Supplier Relationships with Key supply base.
• Be one of Kerry's Subject matter experts on Meat Ingredients and Meat Markets and pricing. Ensure supplier compliance for required standards of business (Supplier Quality, Insurance, SEDEX, etc).
• Ensure the Meat Down stream team is utilizing the right and most effective tools carry procurement activities. These tools should be enhancing efficiency, accuracy and value delivered by the team. Supplier Benchmarking and workshops.
• Ensure Meat DS team is an active member of various Global and Regional initiatives, and works to share and utilize best practices across the procurement teams in NAM.
• Ensure the Meat DS team delivers value added services and results which promote DDS and NAM procurement brand within Kerry as value creator and strategic partner.

Qualifications & Skills

• BS Degree in Business or similar discipline
• 7+ years of experience in Procurement or Supply Chain in the Food and Beverage industry
• 5+ years of experience in the Meat industry