As Potato Starch Procurement Manager your responsibilities will include:

• Develop and execute long term sourcing strategy of potato raw starch to drive potato side-stream leadership and competitive advantage to Systems & Ingredient Solutions US/Canada.
• Secure and increase domestic potato raw starch supply for business growth by building relationships and working closely with current suppliers and identifying and qualifying new suppliers
• Lead the negotiation and development of key contracts through the effective partnering with the supplier, Legal, and the business stakeholder
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction of potato raw starch and freight that are attributable to potato business P&L
• Import potato-based specialty finished products from suppliers or tolling in Europe for domestic demand.
• Manage key strategic supplier relationships to ensure quality, cost, delivery, and service.  Conduct timely reviews with suppliers to measure performance against contractual standards and performance expectations
• Understand potato crop market and potato processing industry in both North America and Europe as sourcing intelligence to help in contract negotiation, increasing supply and cost management for potato starch.
• Conduct market research of potato processing industry, including potato snack and French fries manufacturing, to identify and qualify new suppliers
• Work with the top suppliers as primary contact to lead innovative projects to increase potato starch collection and volume supply
• Work with production, supply chain and logistic functions to optimize potato starch supply network and drive cost out of business, including freight and inventory cost.
• Lead the implementation of strategic sourcing projects by pioneering domestic potato growing program with targeted agricultural partners.
• Drive sustainability program of potato starch sourcing to achieve 2025 target.
• Build effective relationships within the Ingredion network to gain the support required and deliver on objectives, with ability to influence and interact with all levels of the organization
• Maintain strong senior level relationships with key suppliers to collaboratively work with and deliver recognized value and gain strategic market insights

Qualified candidates will have:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in procurement and strategic sourcing role, with working knowledge of purchasing, sourcing, supplier performance management, supply chain and inventory strategies & practices. Procurement experience in agricultural products, starch and food ingredients is preferred
• Strong negotiations and contract management skills
• Strong collaboration and communication skills with a demonstrated history of successfully collaborating with multiple internal stakeholders
• Excellent analytical and financial acumen including cost modeling, budgeting, and forecasting
• Experience in using SAP, GrainSmart or other value creating tools to access, maintain and analyze the data
• Excellent skills within the Microsoft Office suite
• A bachelor’s degree in related discipline

The manager position is well-suited for you if you:

• Delivering our strategy: proactively develop relationships at existing and new suppliers to increase potato starch supply and demonstrate the value of this “win-win” relationship.
• Passionately driving for results: Consistently focuses on achieving strong results, despite balancing multiple complex demands.
• Fostering results-focused innovation: Demonstrates a bias to do things in new ways, always looking for improvements.  Actively collects and analyzes data to look for new opportunities.
• Operating with agility: Adjusts methods in response to both internal and external supplier / customer feedback to optimize processes.
• Building trusted relationships: Ability to build strong relationships with both internal and external customers and be recognized as a valuable resource that others seek for help.
• Encouraging personal growth: Seeks opportunities (training, projects, etc.) that develop knowledge and skills to people management.