Senior Buyer - Ingredients

Senior Buyer - Ingredients

The Senior Buyer (Ingredients) is responsible for leading all Strategic Sourcing and business impact associated with assigned spend categories, related to Ingredients & Food Additives. This includes supply assurance & management, spend category strategy development, supplier relationship management, business partnering to Commercial & Functional teams, and dedicated support to the company's growth ambitions, while directly contributing to functional KPIs: cost-savings, cash flow improvement, and mitigating supply risk. This is a high-impact & highly visible role that demands a rare blend: a strategic thinker who can design category strategies, enable innovation, and build long-term capability within the Sourcing organization. While at the same time, can execute at the operational level when needed, to drive change and deliver measurable business results. This role will also play a key role in Commercializing new products, driving process improvement beyond individual scope, and providing technical direction and advice to Sourcing Leadership and Commercial stakeholders, both internally and externally.

Your Responsibilities

• Maintains overall Spend & Category ownership for Ingredient categories (to be defined), to ensure adequate and timely supply of materials to support manufacturing and business operations. Particular focus on zero stockouts, business disruption, or customer impact.
• Develops and implements end-to-end strategic sourcing processes – including category strategies, RFx execution, supplier selection, contract negotiation, and supplier relationship management.
• Negotiates volume, price, payment terms, lead times, and other Commercial considerations for assigned categories.
• Maintains the Company's competitive advantages by negotiating contracts, ensuring optimal supplier performance and mitigating Risk (supply, cost, legal, compliance, etc.)
• Identifies, documents, and delivers year over year cost reduction by leading total cost of ownership (TCO) and value engineering initiatives, specific within Sourcing or in partnership with other functions.
• Identifies, documents, and delivers opportunities to improve cash conversion: extending vendor payment terms, reducing inventory, and optimizing spend.
• Identifies, documents, and delivers opportunities for cost avoidance/protection in inflationary and volatile markets.
• Develops, gains alignment with key stakeholders, and executes regional and global sourcing strategies for assigned spend categories.
• Maintains expertise on regional and global market conditions, liaising with Global Sourcing counterparts where appropriate.
• Acts as an internal consultant to the Lead Buyer, regional Head of Sourcing, Executive Management Team, Customers, and internal Business stakeholders.
• Takes on special projects as assigned by the Lead Buyer and/or Head of Sourcing. Emphasis will be on large impact cost-savings, efficiency, or growth opportunities.
• Maintains accurate and pertinent Sourcing data concerning Price, volatility, supplier records, and external market data within SAP and other Company systems.
• Supports the ambitious growth trajectory of the Company by scouting for new ingredients, attending industry events, and otherwise managing large, multiple, and/or cross-functional projects.
• Travel Less than 20%

Your Profile

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Agricultural Sciences, or other relevant field of study.
• 5 year's experience in a Procurement/Supply Chain management role, ideally for a food manufacturing business.
• 3 year's experience leading regional and global cross-functional projects, with business growth at the core.
• Buying experience in Specialty Ingredient Markets (i.e. Botanicals)

We Offer:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage – Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans to support you and your family
• Paid Parental Leave –Maternity and Paternity Leave so you can focus on what matters most
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Plan for your future with company-supported retirement savings
• Paid Time Off – Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with PTO and 11 Paid Holidays
• Employee Engagement – Join our Engagement Team for fun events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to connect with colleagues across the company
• Döhler Academy: You have the opportunity to continuously develop your education further through internal and external training programs
• Supportive Culture – Friendly and informal atmosphere, family-owned private company, flat hierarchies, open communication, and helpful colleagues
• Meaningful Impact – Be an integral part of our business success and help shape the future of nutrition
• Empowerment – Unleash your full potential with opportunities to grow, lead, and make a real difference