Procurement Manager – Protein

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Sunrisefarms

Grand River Foods is a leading food solutions company serving customers in the North American grocery and food service industry. As a member of the Sunrise Farm family, we remain as dedicated as ever to both providing a quality work environment for our employees, as well as producing only the highest quality products for our customers. We are known for the great care we take with clients and employees alike.

Role:

The Protein Procurement Manager plays a pivotal role in driving companywide strategic sourcing excellence across all protein categories. This role ensures cost optimization, supply continuity, innovation and risk mitigation to support long-term growth, customer commitment and operational resilience.

The Protein Procurement Manager develops and implements strategic sourcing initiatives and supplier management strategies by reviewing and seeking out new technologies and processes to optimize not only the supplier selection but the entire cost cycle across the organization. The Protein Procurement Manager incorporates a sustainability and total cost of ownership perspective as an integral component for the products and services provided.

Responsibilities:

• The following list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive but provides an overview of the scope of the role
• Oversee the business relationship with key supplier activities including ordering, communication of demand/volume/ delivery time changes, issue resolution, sharing end-user feedback, follow up, quality claims, fill rate monitoring etc.
• Develop a strong understanding and knowledge of incumbent and disruptive suppliers and their capabilities to enable the team to adapt to changing market conditions and create agile procurement and reduce protein supply disruptions.
• Manage supplier relationships to ensure continuity of goods and services that meet the quality, service and price performance standards of the company
• Mentor team to develop constructive supplier relationships for protein procurement
• Develops market intelligence specific to the assigned portfolio of commodities including but not limited to analysis of supplier capabilities and offerings, competitive landscape, market trends, impact of various factors on cost, price and availability of protein
• Provide thought leadership on sourcing strategy and act as a subject matter expert for senior leadership on protein market conditions and risks
• Keep abreast of economic conditions, business situations, new materials and techniques that affect our processes and business to assist with purchasing decisions and mitigate risks related to price volatility and supply chain disruptions
• Develop and implement procurement strategies to optimize the sourcing of protein products by conducting in-depth market analysis and benchmarking to identify trends, opportunities, and risks within assigned protein category
• Create and establish efficient processes and technology adoption by leveraging advanced procurement analytics and digital forecasting platforms to enhance decision making in the procurement of poultry, beef, pork, cheese and other protein to ensure that future growth can be supported with defined processes
• Review inventory levels and, where needed, engage with cross functional teams to manage the optimum levels of inventory required for maximum profitability
• Identify and establish continuous improvement and total cost of ownership reduction opportunities in collaboration with Business Partners
• Continuous improvement and reduction opportunities may impact financial and operational areas as well as staffing workloads, working conditions, changes in positions and staffing levels. Accountable to deliver annual key performance indicators including cost reduction targets to maximize profitability
• Develop and execute buying programs for multiple proteins (beef, pork, poultry, etc.) and execute weekly procurement and management of raw materials for production
• Work closely with the quality assurance team to ensure all protein products meet the company’s standards and specifications
• Conduct regular supplier audits and inspections to verify compliance with quality, safety, and regulatory requirements
• Address any quality issues or non-conformities with suppliers and implement corrective actions as needed
• Manage the protein procurement budget and monitor expenditures to ensure cost control and financial targets are met
• Prepare and present reports on procurement activities, supplier performance, market analysis, and cost savings initiatives
• Establish annual cost improvement targets by working with business partners to conduct reviews addressing performance metrics and regularly report savings results to management
• Track and report success against clearly defined key performance indicators (KPIs), including cost savings, service level improvements and risk mitigation outcomes
• Work with stakeholders and leadership teams to implement and enforce polices that increase spend visibility and compliance. Develop risk mitigation approaches and evaluation plans for reviewing pricing mechanisms, dual sourcing, and contingency planning
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including production, logistics, quality assurance, and finance to establish the short term & long-term category strategy for protein procurement to meet the commercial needs of the organization
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to align procurement activities with company goals and objectives
• Provide leadership and expertise in a variety of areas including category strategy support and development, RFX development and oversight of new domestic & international suppliers, market analysis and supplier negotiations.
• Lead all resourcing/new sourcing projects, which include breaking down components to establish target costs
• Participate in meetings, conferences, and industry events to stay informed about market trends and developments in the protein sector
• Partner with internal stakeholders to drive adoption of digital procurement tools and promote a data driven culture in supplier evaluation and sourcing decisions

Requirements:

• College or University education in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Food Science, or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management, preferably within the food industry
• Proven track record of successfully managing supplier relationships and negotiating contracts
• Strong experience with purchasing high volumes of beef, poultry, pork, and other protein products
• Understanding of regulatory requirements and food safety standards (CFIA, HACCP, GMP, etc.)
• Strong network of supplier contacts in the protein industry is an asset
• Solid understanding of commodity, food and/or packaging sourcing is an asset
• Certification as a MCIPS, SCMP or CSCP

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of protein products, market dynamics, regulatory requirements, and macroeconomic factors and their impact on supply chain operations
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners
• Intermediate to Advanced computer skills with entire Microsoft platform.
• Excellent people management skills with relationship building and leadership qualities.
• Strong knowledge of internal controls and finance management.
• Thorough knowledge of E sourcing software systems.
• Knowledge of accounting and budgetary practices and principles.
• Able to quickly calculate discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, and volume.
• Considerable knowledge of laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to corporate purchasing practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with sound judgment and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and remain flexible to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on quality and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate resilience and persistence in overcoming obstacles.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels.
• Must be able to work professionally to resolve problems (both internal & external) in a fair and ethical manner while maintaining a positive working relationship and protecting the long-term interests of the company.
• Proven ability to influence cross – functional and executive- level stakeholders using industry knowledge, market study and data driven insights.

At Sunrise Farms we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or any other identifying characteristic are encouraged to apply.

Please note that the expected new hire salary range provided is derived from a group of like roles within Sunrise Farms. The final offer amount for this role will be dependent on geographical region, applicable experience, and skillset of the candidate.