Manager Transportation Procurement (Chicago, IL / Eden Prairie, MN / Bedminster, NJ / Austin, MN / Willmar, MN)

Manager Transportation Procurement

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, Skippy, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus, Jennie-O and more than 30 other beloved brands.

This position reports directly to the Manager of Procurement & Optimization Transportation & Warehousing.

Responsibilities:

• Develop Category Strategies: Create and implement strategies for assigned transportation categories, aligning with key stakeholders and identifying areas for cost savings.
• Lead Sourcing Events: Conduct sourcing events to secure industry-leading prices while meeting quality and delivery specifications.
• Contract Management: Implement and manage contracts in partnership with legal and stakeholders, ensuring compliance with contract policies.
• Negotiate, review, and approve purchase agreements with suppliers.
• Supplier Management: Establish and maintain supplier relationships, providing data-driven KPI feedback, continuous improvement, and conducting Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs).
• Identify and recommend alternate suppliers and/or delivery modes.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with Corporate Transportation Operations, Plant Transportation teams, Plant Operations, and Sales to gather input, review supplier performance, and drive metric-driven business improvements. Partner with Procurement Shared Services (PSS) to optimize work processes.
• Market Monitoring: Monitor market conditions and advise management on changes in service prices and issues impacting transportation expenses.
• Process and Cost Improvement: Identify and lead strategic process and cost improvement projects, including Design to Value initiatives, in partnership with cross-functional stakeholders.

Qualifications: Required

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Proven experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain, operations, engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated initiative and achievement.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and negotiation skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced knowledge in OTM, Blue Yonder.
• Willing to travel 5-10% of the time.
• Applicants must not now, or at any time in the future, require employer sponsorship for a work visa.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer.

Preferred

• Proven experience in transportation/freight procurement.
• Expert knowledge in OTM, Blue Yonder.

Location: Chicago, IL / Bedminster, NJ / Austin, MN / Willmar, MN / Eden Prairie, MN

A comprehensive relocation package to the above areas will be offered, if required.

At Hormel Foods, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. The base hiring pay range for the Manager Transportation Procurement role is between $98,100 - $137,325 per year, and your actual base pay within that range will depend upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge, skill set, level of experience, and geographic market location.

Benefits: Other components of Hormel Foods' total compensation package includes comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, discretionary annual merit increases, bonuses and profit sharing, 401(k) with employer match, stock purchase plan, relocation assistance, paid time off, free two-year community/technical college tuition for children of employees, and more.

Travel Requirements: Up to 10% of the time