Procurement Category Manager

We're seeking a skilled Procurement Category Manager to join our team at Freshpet. As a key member of our procurement team, you will be responsible for developing and executing CapEx procurement strategies and global contracts in alignment with project objectives.

You will work closely with project leads and engineering to carry out all procurement activity from RFQ to supplier selection and implementing robust contracts. This role ensures that project sourcing aligns with corporate practices, procedures, compliance, and financial hurdles.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as Procurement liaison with Engineering Project Manager, Engineering, and all stakeholders
• Understanding and staying abreast of macroeconomic, regulatory, and capacity trends which could impact the business
• Leveraging procurement best practices to develop and implement strategies in alignment with business and project objectives
• Demonstrating leadership, engagement, and partnerships with internal stakeholders to understand requirements and collaborate on solutions
• Leading the development, negotiation, and implementation of contract agreements with suppliers including Freshpet legal, if needed
• Evaluating risks, negotiating services, prices, and terms of contracts, and recommending purchases to obtain the best possible value while adhering to quality of work, specifications, and business requirements
• Understanding changes to business capital forecasts, project objectives, and translating its impact to procurement activities
• Responsible for ensuring purchased equipment meets/exceeds contractual obligations, and any pertaining industry standards or customer requirements
• Supporting stakeholders on supplier relationship management initiatives to drive delivery of best-in-class performance and innovative products and services
• Developing and driving Procurement key performance indicators (KPIs) in alignment with the project team and objectives
• Researching new equipment/tooling suppliers and tooling concepts

Requirements include:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, supply chain, business, or equivalent experience
• Large Capital project experience up to $50MM
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, balancing short term vs long term needs
• Understanding of the current capital project process and ability to initiate capital procurement best practices, policies, and procedures
• Ability to quickly develop an understanding of business technology and equipment to identify leveraging opportunities across multiple projects
• Extremely high standards of excellence and quality-oriented mindset
• 10-20% travel between Freshpet locations (PA, NJ, TX, AR) and visits to suppliers

We offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from diverse candidates. We are committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion and believe that our employees' differences are our greatest strength. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.