Senior Manager Category Management, Procurement

Senior Manager Category Management, Procurement

Deliver Hershey's innovation and growth agenda in partnership with R&D, Marketing, Supply Chain and suppliers. This role focuses on identifying and developing suppliers with high innovation capabilities, advanced technologies, and sustainable solutions while accelerating speed-to-market for breakthrough initiatives. This position establishes end-to-end procurement innovation readiness while ensuring strategies are in place to create a competitive advantage, manage intellectual property rights, drive supply resilience, and improve efficiencies.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute front-of-funnel innovation sourcing opportunities achieved through cross-functional partnerships with R&D, Marketing, Legal, Supply Chain and Procurement
• Partner with R&D and Brand Marketing to identify white space opportunities, develop intellectual property roadmaps and source external capabilities to support the longer-term research and innovation pipeline
• Provide guidance to ensure new designs consider scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable options
• Partner with Procurement Category Managers: identify and evaluate new emerging ingredient and packaging materials, lead the procurement workstream to ensure readiness and competitive advantage
• Supplier Development and Partnership: Develop suppliers (existing and new) with strong innovation capabilities and advanced technologies to drive innovation and supply resilience. Cultivate strategic supplier relationships enabling the research and innovation agenda

Qualifications:

• Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Expertise: Demonstrated expertise to develop and implement sourcing strategies that align with organizational goals. This includes negotiating complex contracts and intellectual property literacy to drive value, innovation and mitigate risk.
• Influence and Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong ability to navigate matrixed organization structure and to influence and align stakeholders. Strong interpersonal skills to facilitate communication, resolve conflicts, and achieve collaborative outcomes
• R&D sourcing and Procurement sourcing experience within the CPG and/or food/beverage sectors
• Analytical and Financial Acumen: Strong analytical skills to evaluate market data, pricing trends, and total cost of ownership. Ability to use financial models to assess cost-saving opportunities and make data-driven decisions. Owns delivery of annual budget and ongoing budget/market forecasting.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Proven experience in building and maintaining effective relationships with suppliers. Skills in negotiating terms, managing performance, and collaborating on continuous improvement and sustainability initiatives.
• Risk Management and Compliance: Knowledge of regulatory requirements and best practices. Proficiency in identifying and mitigating risks to ensure compliance and minimize disruptions

Education & Experience:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Food Science, or a related field. An MBA or advanced degree is preferred but not required.
• Experience: Minimum of 7 years of experience in indirect and direct procurement or R&D management within the consumer-packaged goods industry. Proven track record in managing complex sourcing projects, R&D sourcing projects, supplier relationships, and cost management initiatives.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans.