As aStrategic Sourcing Manager,you will be responsible for developing and executing enterprise-wide sourcing strategies for key ingredients and packaging materials to support business growth while driving cost efficiencies, supply continuity, and continuous improvement. This role leads local, regional, and international sourcing initiatives to deliver long-term competitive advantages across the organization.
This is a high-impact leadership role that drives strategic decision-making and executes dynamic change transformation, strategic decisions and implements continuous improvements. The Strategic Sourcing Manager plays a critical role in supplier strategy, risk mitigation, innovation enablement, creative solutioning for continuous supply and contract management. Working closely as a strategic partner with cross-functional leadership, R&D, plant operations, quality, sales, commercialization, supply chain, procurement, finance and IT, you will be a key contributor to cost savings and margin enhancement.
Reporting Structure: This position reports directly to the Vice President of Strategic Sourcing
Key Responsibilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Essential job functions and duties include, but are not limited to:
- Develop and implement category strategic sourcing strategies that ensure consistent supply, timelydelivery, and high-quality materials aligned with business requirements
- Act as lead strategist to leverage enterprise scale and drive cost efficiencies across spend categories with a continuous improvement mindset
- Achieve competitive pricing advantages through market intelligence, including domestic and international macroeconomic factors
- Proactively identify and capitalize on opportunistic market conditions within assigned categories
- Identify, evaluate, and execute sourcing opportunities while mitigating supply risk and ensuring supply chain stability & longevity
- Serve as Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM), fostering strong partnerships across the local and global supply base. Act as the primary key interface between Vibrant Ingredients and assigned suppliers
- Optimize the supply base to support continuity, scalability, innovation, and long-term growth
- Lead negotiations for long-term supply agreements that deliver sustainable competitive advantages. Develop & manage multi-year contracts and master supply agreements, ensuring compliance with pricing, quality, and delivery requirements
- Collaborate with Suppliers and R&D to drive creative innovation thru ESI;
- Work closely with Quality to identify, qualify, and approve new materials, technologies, and suppliers. Ensure sourced ingredients meet all product specifications, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and customer-specific needs
- Conduct supplier performance evaluations and drive improvement initiatives across the supply base and award new business based on highest performance supplier(s)
- Partner cross-functionally to support evolving business needs and strategic initiatives
Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:
- Bachelor?s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Management, Economics, Engineering, or related discipline
- Minimum of 8 10 years of experience in procurement and strategic sourcing, with strong category management expertise
- Highly preferred experience identifying, selecting and sourcing agricultural products, food & beverage ingredients, and packaging materials
- Ideal category experience includes Tea, Coffee, Botanicals, Fruits & Vegetables and Functional
- Strong financial and business acumen, including PPV management, P&L impact, cash flow optimization, spend analysis,
- Demonstrated ability to build, evaluate, and manage a reliable global supplier network
- Proven success in complex contract negotiations & multi-source qualification and supplier accountability performance management.
- Strong leadership and team-building capabilities, with the ability to coach and mentor
- Ability to influence stakeholders, manage ambiguity, and demonstrate resilience
- Strong project management skills supporting cross-functional initiatives
- Data-driven decision-maker capable of analyzing complex data sets quickly
- Excellent interpersonal, conflict management, communication, and presentation skills
- Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., Microsoft Business Central, Great Plains, or similar platforms)
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
- Ability to travel up to 15% or more as required
Preferred Experience & Education
- Master?s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Management, Administration, Economics, Engineering, or related discipline
- 6+ years of experience sourcing Tea, Coffee, agriculture driven, Fruits & Vegetables;
- 8+ years of experience sourcing packaging materials
- 10+ years of experience in food & beverage manufacturing environments
- 10+ years of experience working in or with foodservice organizations
- 10+ years of experience working in or with consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies
- Professional certification such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) designation, now called the Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
Work Environment:
- May involve exposure to allergens such as Soy, Wheat, Fish, Shellfish, Milk, Egg, Tree Nuts and Sesame.
What Vibrant Ingredients can offer you:
- Generous time off for vacations
- Paid Holidays
- 401(k) with company match
- Tuition reimbursement
- Medical/Dental/Vision
- Health & Wellness programs
More about us:
Vibrant Ingredients, headquartered in Lake Mary, FL, is one of the world's leading independent providers of natural ingredients. With a legacy spanning over 70 years, we deliver a diverse portfolio of clean label ingredients and innovative system solutions to the food and beverage industry. Our commitment to quality and performance is reflected in our American-made products, which enhance both taste and functionality. Backed by advanced manufacturing capabilities, we specialize in fermentation, patented cold brew extraction, custom flavor development, and a range of drying and blending technologies. Operating from four state-of-the-art facilities strategically located across the U.S., we ensure the accessibility of real, high-quality ingredients helping our customers create better-for-you food and beverage for consumers.