As the Strategic Sourcing Specialist you will own several product categories, maintain, and grow existing key suppliers while selecting and maintaining a network of potential new suppliers. You will also develop pricing strategies and implement Master Supplier Agreements.
The successful candidate in this role will be someone that has built and implemented a strategic sourcing framework and has proven experience negotiating and managing vendors across multiple categories. They will be outgoing, assertive, proactive, and demonstrate urgency, accountability and have passion for our core values.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Own the full end to end management of designated vendors and co-mans, from first contact to commercializing new sku's and categories.
Use successful negotiation strategies to create contracts with optimal terms and establish supplier relationships that are most beneficial to the company.
Influence suppliers so they understand the value of our partnership and are able to meet our needs most effectively.
Prescribe to the philosophy that we treat our suppliers like customers in order to establish deep, lasting relationships with them.
Partner with suppliers to bring a continuous improvement mentality and strategy, to reduce cost and improve efficiencies while maintaining or improving quality, and adjust strategies based on changing business needs.
Leverage technical knowledge of products, ingredients, and components to build expertise on the operations of our suppliers.
Manage and lead key strategic initiatives to optimize our vendor network and build a strong group of alternate suppliers.
Support cross functional team in resolving any obstacles or issues with vendors (supply planning, R&D, quality, etc.)
Project management of initial production setup of both new co-packers and new products.
Qualifications
Requires 3 to 5 years progressively responsible experience in managing 3rd party manufacturers and/or suppliers and a demonstrated track record in successfully developing, negotiating, and managing complex vendor relationships.
Engineering, Operations or Supply Chain Management or other technical degree preferred.
Requires excellent communications skills with the proven ability to lead, influence and motivate others.
Ability to build positive, lasting relationships.
Comfort and experience managing multiple projects at once, shifting priorities in a multi-tasking environment.
Advanced Ability to collaborate at all levels of the organization and across other functional areas.
Project Management experience.
Strong strategic planning and tactical decision-making skills.
Initiative-taking and strong analytical / problem solving skills.
Tasty Brands is a well-established, fast growing national company that is focused on providing great tasting, nutritious food for K12 school foodservice customers and private brands of selected retailers. With a focus on collaboration, best practices, and continuous improvement, we are looking for people who want to join us for a long career and be part of a great success story. Our most successful people are self-starters, work well in collaboration with others, see the big picture and like to win.
We have an outstanding team of motivated professionals who work well together in a fun and team spirit type atmosphere. Our mission is driven by our core values - urgency, accountability, proactivity, teamwork, and integrity. We are looking for the next "great fit" to join our growing team!