Procurement Category Specialist

As a leading manufacturer of nutritional supplements and other health-building products, we are dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of our customers - through research, development and delivery of effective nutritional products. It is our mission to contribute to the lives of our customers, employees, suppliers and the communities we serve, in a cooperative and sustainable manner.

**Job Summary**:
The Category Specialist will be involved in the procurement of commodities, including but not limited to: raw materials, bulk products and subcontract manufacturing. This requires expert negotiation skills while creating and sustaining relationships with suppliers. The Category specialist will coordinate with finance, inventory, planning, production and quality departments as necessary to ensure overall tactical responsiveness. Natural ability to negotiate, analyze and make decisions is vital to our company’s success, while taking into consideration the company’s commitment to our seven Core Values such as sustainability (people, the planet, and profit) in the planning and implementation of all actions related to the area of responsibility.

**Job Description and Responsibilities**:

- The primary role for this position is to ensure the continuity of supply of all production materials.
- Lead and assist in negotiations with suppliers and implementing all types of supply agreements and/or purchase orders to meet business goals while sustaining relationships with suppliers.
- Resolve quality, pricing and delivery issues with suppliers.
- Monitor, plan and negotiate less complex supplier price agreements to prevent expiration of agreements to maximize margin performance
- Recommend and implement purchasing strategies and inventory management techniques to reduce inventory while maintaining exceptional customer service.
- Evaluate and recommend cost improvement ideas through product, vendor, and design changes.
- Perform detailed cost analysis and cost reduction activities.
- Support and execution of all Procurement Department and corporate initiatives
- Attend all Procurement related meetings
- Follow and adhere to all given instructions including work procedures, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)
- Strictly adhere to and observe all safety policies as outlined in the company policies and training sessions
- May be required to travel to various office locations and/or out of town business travel
- Ability to conduct multi-supplier and replacement supplier sourcing
- Assist in the evaluation and qualification of new suppliers for materials and services.
- Ability to review and compare technical documents (ie. Product Specifications)
- Actively participate in the product life cycle process.
- Work on special projects as assigned by management
- Attend and participate in all department meetings on a weekly, quarterly, annual basis
- Follow and adhere to all given instructions including work procedures, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)
- Strictly adhere to and observe all safety policies as outlined in the company policies and training sessions.
- Other duties as assigned

**Key Qualifications**:
Technical
- Minimum 3 years’ purchasing experience with a manufacturing company
- Completed courses or classes on supply chain with APICS or SCMP
- Knowledge of Material Management Systems and Process
- Familiar with MRP computer systems a strong asset
- Understand B.O.M. & W.I.P posting and reconciliation procedures
- Microsoft software knowledge - Excel/Word/PowerPoint
- SYSPRO ERP system experience an asset
- Valid driver’s license and access to vehicle as required

Attributes
- Exceptional verbal, written and communication skills with the ability to communicate across functions and countries
- Food or Science background an asset
- Remarkable negotiation skills
- Proven ability to demonstrate problem solving skills while working under pressure

All Internal applicants will be given priority for consideration for the first five business days that this position is posted. After that five days, Internal applicants will be considered along with all other applicants; however, are guaranteed at minimum a call from the Talent Acquisition team.