Vendor Manager (27190)

Job Title:                          Vendor Manager - Nutrition

Department:                     Operations

Reports to:                        Director, Global Supply Chain

Job Description:               Vendor Manager is responsible for managing vendor relationship in order to source the highest quality goods and services for the most competitive price according to a timeline that supports overall supply chain objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Works with Operations, R&D, Marketing, Creative Services, QA/QC, and Finance to strengthen key supplier relations and ensure a strong supply chain.
• Proactively seeks to improve lead times, quality, profits, and cash flow

• Negotiates with vendors for goods and services, negotiating the best possible price and service guarantee
• Ensure system accuracy by regularly updating and correcting system inputs
• Develop systems and processes to improve efficiencies
• Helps manage goods through entire product lifecycle from launch through retirement and ensuring appropriate inventory levels according to supply chain objectives
• Ensures long term supply of needed goods and services
• Build and establish long term business relationships with key suppliers
• Resolve and manage any issues or conflicts that arise during production of goods
• Develops and qualifies new supply sources where existing sources are inadequate
• Assists in establishing purchasing policies and ensure vendor compliance
• Track and monitor receipt of all goods through Quality release, including raw materials, primary packaging, secondary packaging, and finished goods to ensure quality and on time deliveries
• Requests bids and proposals, evaluates submissions, and makes awards
• Establishes account/credit and terms
• Negotiates blanket purchase orders when appropriate and monitors costs during period
• Checks requisitions for appropriate approval and account numbers
• Traces delinquent arrivals from purchase orders
• Resolves PO/contract to invoice discrepancies to ensure timely payment
• Follows environmental and safety regulations and acts in compliance with U.S. laws
• Complies with safety and corporate guidelines on business ethics
• Performs business reviews with assigned major suppliers

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a business-related area or equivalent work experience.  Degree in Supply Chain strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of MRP and other supply chain functions and best practices and ability to apply concepts in a meaningful way

• 3-7+  years of purchasing experience, with Nutritional raw ingredient, Nutritional Finished Goods and Packaging experience preferred
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Knowledge of ERP systems.  SAP experience strongly preferred
• Self-starter with ability to work with minimal supervision
• Strong MS Excel skills

• Strong ethical code of conduct.

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