Senior Procurement Manager

Procurement ManagerMìLà is a Chinese food company. Our teams work tirelessly to enhance delicious products that we all enjoy at home! While MìLà is a Chinese food brand, it's really a celebration of the power of food to bring us together, share our stories, and discover new flavors and cultures. Our mission is to build something that feels authentically and uniquely true to our roots as a Chinese-American-founded brand. Something we can own, but that's also meant to be shared. One of the things we love about Chinese food is that it's traditionally served family-style—shared with everyone gathered at the table. MìLà is a Chinese food brand, but it's really a celebration of the power of food to bring us together, share our stories, and discover new flavors and cultures.This role owns end-to-end procurement and supply of all raw materials, packaging, and contract manufactured existing products, ensuring the business has the right materials at the right time, cost, and quality. This is not a transactional purchasing role. This role is accountable for supplier ownership, procurement decision-making, cost management, and purchasing discipline. The role serves as the gatekeeper of purchasing.Ownership begins immediately after the first PO is placed for all raw, packaging, and contract manufactured items.Own supplier relationshipOwn cost, terms, and performanceOwn forecasting alignment and replenishmentOwn all future purchasing decisionsOwns all existing raw, packaging materials, & co-manned items.End-to-End Procurement OwnershipOwn all purchasing decisions for existing raw materials, packaging, and contract manufactured goods across the businessEnsure materials are procured, at the right quantity, time, and costMaintain full visibility into demand, supply, and inventory positionsPurchasing GatekeeperAct as the final decision-maker before any PO is placedDo not execute POs based solely on inputs from Planning/S&OP or Project ManagementValidate every purchase by asking:Does the quantity align with demand and current inventory?Is the timing appropriate?Is there an opportunity to consolidate, delay, or optimize?Is this the best supplier and price available?Supplier Ownership & Commercial ManagementFully own supplier relationships post-onboardingNegotiate pricing, MOQs, lead times and payment termsContinuously benchmark suppliers and identify cost-saving opportunitiesHold suppliers accountable to service, quality, and delivery expectationsCost & Savings AccountabilityIdentify and execute cost savings across materials and packagingRegularly review:Price changesMarket trendsPartner with Finance to understand COGS impactsProactively communicate cost increases, supply risks, and market changes cross-functionally, while driving mitigation plans through supplier negotiations, alternate sourcing, packaging optimization, MOQ adjustments, or specification changesPlanning & SIOP Alignment (Not subordination)Partner with SIOP lead to understand demand signalsTranslate demand into optimized purchasing decisionsPush back when plan:Creates excess inventoryDrives inefficient orderingIncreases costs unnecessarilyInventory & Working CapitalManage inventory levels to balance:Service levelsStorage costsWorking CapitalAvoid:OverstockingEmergency buysInefficient MOQ-driven inventoryExecution & Process OwnershipEnsure accurate POs creation, tracking, and deliveryResolve discrepancies with vendors and accountingMaintain clean audit ready procurement recordsImprove procurement processes and systems over timeReporting & AnalyticsDevelop and maintain a rolling 13-week inventory cash forecast, providing visibility into upcoming purchasing-related cash outflowsTrack and report Weeks of Supply (WOS) across all raw materials, packaging, and co-manned items.Identify and flag excess, at-risk, and understocked inventoryMaintain a regular report of obsolete and slow-moving inventory (raw & packaging)Proactively escalate cross functionally to determine next stepsTrack and report purchase price trends over time, highlighting variances and cost driversDevelop and maintain supplier scorecards (OTIF, quality, reliability, etc.) and actively leverage insights in supplier negotiationsReport on PO accuracy, reactive/emergency purchasing, and MOQ-driven inefficiencies, including root cause identificationProvide consistent reporting cadence across Finance, Planning, and Operations, clearly communicating risks, opportunities, and required decisionsSuccess MetricsMaintain optimal WOS for existing itemsDeliver measurable cost savings and cost avoidanceImprove supplier performance (OTIF, quality, reliability)Reduced reactive and expedited purchasingMaintain an accurate 13-week cashflow forecastWhat you'll have8+ years of relevant experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, materials management, or supply chain, ideally within food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing.Demonstrated ownership of supplier relationships and commercial negotiations, including pricing, MOQs, lead times, payment terms, and supplier performance.Proven track record of delivering measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, and COGS improvements through strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations.Experience managing raw materials, packaging, and contract-manufactured products, including replenishment planning, inventory optimization, and supply continuity.Strong analytical and financial skills, with experience managing weeks of supply, working capital, purchase price variances, and inventory or purchasing cash-flow forecasts.Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, advanced Excel, and cross-functional collaboration with Finance, Planning/S&OP, Quality, and Operations.Bonus: Fluency in Mandarin Chinese, spoken and written, for communicating directly with our vendorsWhy Should You Join Us?Comprehensive health coverage including medical, dental, and vision insurance. MiLa covers 75% of employee premiums & 25% of dependent premiumsOptional Extra Protection for Life & AD&D (with guarantee issue amounts at time of hire), Hospital, and Short Term DisabilityInvest in your Future - 401(k) plan to help with your long-term financial security