Manager of Sourcing & Procurement

Position at a glance

Role summary

The Manager of Sourcing & Procurement is a leadership role responsible for building and executing the company's end-to-end packaging procurement strategy. This leader owns the supplier base, the specification library, and the commercial relationships that put the right materials - corrugated, film, flexible, folding cartons, labels, and specialty substrates - into field customers, kitting lines and national account programs on time, on spec, and at optimal cost.

Reporting to the CCO, the Manager sits at the intersection of supply chain, operations, and the sales team. They are expected to drive measurable savings, reduce supply risk, and build a procurement function that gives the company a competitive advantage - not just a compliant one.

Strategic mandate

This role is chartered to accomplish four strategic outcomes within the first 18 months:

• Build a world-class supplier panel - curated, dual-sourced, and performance-managed across all material categories
• Reduce total packaging spend by 8-12% through strategic sourcing, SKU rationalization, and volume aggregation
• Eliminate supply disruptions - zero kitting line stoppages attributable to procurement failures
• Establish a sustainability sourcing roadmap aligned with local and national account client requirements and EPR trends

Core responsibilities

Strategic sourcing & category management

• Own the company's packaging spend across all categories: corrugated (standard and oversized), flexible, film, folding cartons, labels, and specialty materials
• Develop and execute category strategies that balance cost, quality, lead time, and supply security
• Lead competitive sourcing events - RFIs and RFPs - for all major spend categories
• Negotiate master supply agreements with clear pricing, SLA, and escalation provisions
• Build and maintain a dual-source qualification program for every critical SKU
• Benchmark pricing annually against market rates and competitor supplier programs

Supplier development & relationship management

• Manage a curated panel of 15-30 strategic suppliers across corrugated, flexible, and specialty packaging
• Chair quarterly business reviews with Tier-1 suppliers using on-time, quality, cost, and sustainability scorecards
• Lead supplier development programs to close capability or quality gaps on key accounts
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers to expand capability in strategic material categories - including cross-border suppliers for Monterrey / Mexico programs
• Manage supplier risk: financial health monitoring, geographic concentration analysis, disaster recovery planning

Procurement operations & team leadership

• Lead, develop, and grow a team of 2-4 Sourcing Coordinators and Procurement Analysts
• Set team targets, provide coaching, and conduct regular performance reviews
• Oversee the PO lifecycle: issuance, tracking, receipt confirmation, and invoice reconciliation
• Maintain accurate lead time and safety stock models for all material categories
• Drive ERP and procurement system utilization for full spend visibility and reporting
• Establish and enforce procurement policies, approval workflows, and controls

Specification & BOM governance

• Own and maintain the company's packaging specification library - completeness, accuracy, version control, and obsolescence management
• Partner with solutions engineers and sales to translate client requirements into vendor-ready specs
• Lead packaging right-sizing and design-for-cost initiatives to eliminate over-specification
• Manage artwork, print spec, and compliance documentation with suppliers for custom-printed packaging programs
• Support the packaging audit practice by providing spec data, supplier scorecards, and cost analysis to client-facing teams

Cost management & financial accountability

• Own the packaging cost model and deliver a detailed savings waterfall to leadership quarterly
• Build and maintain a total cost of ownership (TCO) framework across all material categories
• Lead annual and mid-year cost reduction programs - targeting 5-10% YOY savings
• Manage procurement budget and provide accurate forward-looking cost forecasts for operations planning
• Quantify supply risk and savings opportunities in financial terms for executive and board reporting

Cross-functional & commercial collaboration

• Partner with national account managers to anticipate program requirements and ensure sourcing readiness ahead of new account launches
• Collaborate with operations leadership to align inbound delivery schedules with kitting line capacity and throughput targets
• Support new business proposals by providing accurate material cost inputs, lead times, and supplier capability assessments
• Represent sourcing and procurement in executive business reviews and client QBRs when relevant

Qualifications

Required

• 10+ years of procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience - at least 3 in a leadership role
• Demonstrated category management experience in packaging: corrugated, flexible, film, labels, or specialty materials
• Track record of delivering measurable procurement savings (cost reduction programs, supplier negotiations, spec rationalization)
• Experience managing and developing a procurement team
• Strong contract negotiation skills with understanding of commercial terms and risk provisions
• Proficiency in ERP or procurement management systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Coupa, or similar)
• Executive communication skills - able to present cost models, supplier risk, and savings programs to C-suite

Preferred

• Experience in a packaging manufacturer, distributor, or contract packaging / kitting environment
• Exposure to cross-border sourcing: Mexico, Asia, or other international supplier relationships
• Familiarity with kitting and fulfillment operations and how packaging spec decisions affect line performance
• Working knowledge of packaging sustainability standards: FSC, PCR content, EPR regulations
• Experience supporting a national accounts commercial team with pricing and sourcing inputs
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, engineering, or related field; MBA or CPM/CSCP certification a plus

Competency profile

How success is measured

What we offer

• Competitive base salary
• Annual performance bonus tied to savings delivery, supplier performance, and team KPIs
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits with strong employer contribution
• 401(k) with company match
• A high-growth company where procurement is a recognized strategic differentiator - not a back-office function