Non-Commodity Procurement (NPC) Category Manager

About ofi North America

We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients. Pioneers at heart, we operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide food & beverage manufacturers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Making a positive impact on people and planet is all part of the delight. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable and transparent supply. Supplying products and ingredients on a scale is just the start. We add value through our unique, complementary portfolio of natural, delicious and nutritious products. With our fresh thinking, we help our customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices so they can create naturally good food & beverage products that meet consumer expectations. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Global Non-Commodity Procurement, the North America (NA) Non-Commodity Procurement (NPC) Category Manager is responsible for Energy, Facility Management, Professional Services & Mobile Capital across twenty-four (24) operational locations in North America.

This role resides within ofi’s Non-Commodity Procurement function, responsible for developing and executing category strategies that drive measurable business value across North America. Acting as a strategic business partner to functional and operational stakeholders, this individual will identify enterprise-wide opportunities to optimize cost, improve service delivery, mitigate risk, and strengthen supplier performance across Energy, Facility Management, Professional Services, and Mobile Capital categories. Operating in a highly matrixed environment, the role requires strong commercial acumen, stakeholder influence, and the ability to translate business requirements into scalable sourcing strategies and high performing operational outcomes.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop, lead and execute category strategies across Energy, Facility Management, Professional Services, and Mobile Capital. Includes multi-year strategic roadmap planning, aligning priorities across multiple BU’s and functional stakeholder(s).
• Utilize the 7 Step Sourcing process to address all relevant category management activities from business case initiation to category strategy execution to disposition of strategy where necessary
• Assemble, coordinate and lead cross-functional and functional stakeholder councils, to properly vet, execute and secure continued performance of category management and sourcing strategies
• Management of a diverse range of internal stakeholders at a business unit, country, and regional level and externally at a supplier / consultant, leading routine strategy update(s).
• Analyze market dynamics to understand upstream cost drivers and its effect on cost and market capacity, develop mitigation strategies where necessary
• Establish category KPI targets (cost, control, process efficiency) and supplier scorecard programs in order to quantify the performance and value return of category management strategies
• Design control plans in order to measure utilization of supply strategies, quantify the correlative effect of programs specific to cost and P&L outcomes, establish corrective action recommendations to support resolve
• Establish benchmark measures at the start of the project and track success, including cycle times, lead times, savings, improved delivery and simplified processes.
• Leverage Strategic Sourcing & Category Management Competencies within standard practice: 7 Steps Strategic Sourcing Process, Multi-Year Category Planning & Strategy, Should Cost Modeling, Strategic Negotiations and Contract Management, Value Stream Mapping & Total Cost of Ownership Methodologies (TCO), Supplier Risk and Relationship Management (SRM) etc. backed by strong Procurement & Data Analytics, Market Intelligence & Advisory.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant subjects such as Business Management, Supply Chain, Operations/Engineering coupled with significant work experience in these areas
• Minimum of 5+ years’ experience in Procurement; Strategic Sourcing experience in Facility Management, Energy, Professional Services, MRO and Supplier Management. Industry experience in CPG/FMCG/Pharma/Food highly desired.
• SAP / SAP S4 HANA, procurement experience is required.
• Experience in leading cross-functional, functional, and/or global teams within a matrixed environment
• Knowledge of cost driver dynamics and influencing market and technology trends within the categories assigned.
• Ability to design effective, fact-based business case justifications with the capacity to drive and steer group decisions
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills. Must be an excellent verbal, written communicator capable of presenting complex technical issues to both peers and non-experts in a clear and effective manner.
• Able to work effectively in an entrepreneurial environment, demonstrating agility, collaboration, teamwork, and accountability.
• Ability to think strategically, while being able to manage hands-on tasks and changing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong MS office systems proficiency e.g. PowerPoint, Excel
• Travel required up to 25%.

Compensation & Benefits

The pay for this role in the state of Illinois ranges from $120,000 to $140,000 and is based on position responsibilities and geographic location. Actual pay within this range may be determined based on candidate’s experience, qualifications and/or other determining factors.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

ofi provides equality of opportunity for all persons with respect to hiring without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. All employment will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us for support at: accommodation@ofi.com.

At ofi, we celebrate our diversity. Olam Americas LLC is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

Key skills/competency

• Non-Commodity Procurement
• Category Management
• Strategic Sourcing
• Energy Procurement
• Facility Management
• Professional Services Procurement
• Mobile Capital Procurement
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Procurement Data Analytics
• Market Intelligence