Global Category Manager

Schaumburg, IL or Decatur, IL

Who we are:

Primient is a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources.  We deliver value through deep technical, commercial, and operational excellence that is backed by our long-standing corn wet milling heritage.  Wherever we are in the process, from field to customer, our priorities are focused on ensuring we produce the safest, highest quality products through practices that uphold both our responsibility and commitments to our people and our planet. 

Role Purpose

The Global Category Manager – Plant Labor and Services will work with stakeholders to lead, develop, and execute sourcing and procurement strategies for Labor and Services at all 5 facilities in North America.  This person will be the point of contact between selected vendors and the plant to understand the labor and service requirements to run the facilities per Primient’s safety requirements. An ideal candidate for this role brings a passion for business partnerships, creative problem solving, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Develop category specific strategies for Plant Labor and Services to deliver improved value for money (meets and/or exceeds targets), reduce risk, improve quality and service.
• Ensure all contractors and suppliers processes, work methods are always safe and with adequate safety controls, meeting Primient’s safety standards.
• Interface with key plant operations, Plant managers, Maintenance and Engineering stakeholders and senior leadership to understand the strategic direction, labor requirements and business priorities.
• Manage the Req Management process ensuring plant labor requirements are made with cost effective solutions (i.e. strategy around pay rate increases).
• Analyze category trends, create multi-year strategic sourcing strategies, and develop programs that provide a competitive advantage to the business.
• Manage the procurement process – RFI/RFQ/RFPs, negotiations, etc. – for all Labor and Services projects, namely, project vendor or supplier planning and execution, coordination, contract preparation, negotiation and execution per Primient Procurement process, risk assessment and management which falls within the responsibilities and scope of work for vendors/contractors.
• Develop robust commercial arrangements that meet Primient’s business, legal, sustainability and ethical requirements.
• Directly manage contracts and suppliers for Plant Labor & Services (including leased and rental equipment,), category through supplier scorecards, quarterly business reviews; measuring contract compliance and other key metrics to ensure targets/ schedules are being met and value is being delivered to the business.
• Ensure all purchasing activities are conducted in accordance with proper procedures and protocols. Track execution to sourcing and procuring plans for all projects per cost and timeline.
• Act as a liaison between Primient stakeholders and suppliers/contractors/sub-contractors to implement contracts fulfilment. Facilitate issue resolution by driving compliance to Change Management Process requirements to ensure optimal customer satisfaction.
• Provide regular and appropriate Plant and Labor Services category communications to stakeholders to ensure the business understands industry best practices, Labor trends with cost and capacity regionally and nationally.
• Analyze and continuously monitor market and industry data and trends to ensure programs remain competitive throughout the agreement period. 
• Seek alternate and innovative ideas to provide business solutions, challenge requirements and specifications to create competitive advantage. 
• Serve as a role model both within the organization and the wider market creates a culture of honesty, integrity, and trust.
• Follow Primient’s safety requirements and always work safe.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required with educational concentration in supply chain, engineering, business administration or a related field is preferred.
• Professional certifications in Supply Chain or Procurement (SCMP/CPSM) or Project Management preferred.

EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years in strategic sourcing / Contractor Labor Procurement Experience. Knowledge of the strategic sourcing process and practical application to sourcing projects.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; understanding of total system cost concepts.
• Experience with Should Cost, TCO and ROI analysis/review.
• Experience with developing strong customer/stakeholder relationships and partnerships
• Subject matter expertise in Plant Labor and related services.
• Experience managing a Plant Labor spend portfolio of $175M+
• Project management and change management knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management or comparable business/engineering degree

SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE

• Possess good interpersonal skills, the ability to foster/build relationships and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and project management skills.
• Possess a sense of urgency and results oriented.
• Strong negotiations skills.
• Ability to identify problems and root causes; suggest resolutions and drive execution.
• Time management, able to prioritize and manage multiple projects concurrently
• Proficiency in SAP Procurement modules.

Location

This position can be located in our office in Decatur, Illinois or Schaumburg, IL

What we offer you:

At Primient, you will have the opportunity to drive end-to-end solutions, while owning a high level of accountability and ownership.  Additionally, we offer….

• Eligible for Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits from Day 1
• 401k Matching
• Bonus Program
• A chance to make dynamic, substantive change in a growing company

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

We are passionate believers in the power of difference. We strive to represent the communities in which we operate and to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment for all. We want Primient to be a place where every employee feels they belong and knows they are seen, heard, valued and safe to speak up. Our aspiration is to unlock the full potential in diverse perspectives, while offering everyone an equal chance to grow, thrive and progress.

California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA")

The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process.