Manager, Strategic Sourcing (Packaging)

Hostess Brands, LLC, is a large packaged foods company focused on manufacturing, distributing, and selling iconic sweet baked goods in the United States such as Twinkies, Cupcakes, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, Donettes and Coffee Cakes, in addition to Voortman's Cookies and Wafers.

Lead the sourcing of packaging materials for assigned categories, with a focus on optimizing the value stream through development and execution of both near-term (e.g., RFPs) and multi-year (e.g., sourcing strategies) campaigns. Manage supplier relationships; align priorities with internal stakeholders (e.g., business leaders, Research & Development, Operations, Quality); lead implementation of campaigns, including across business units where appropriate; and continuously seek opportunities to maximize total value delivered to Hostess Brands. Support the Director(s) of Strategic Procurement in the formation and execution of complex category strategies.

• Own spend for assigned categories, ensuring materials meet all aspects of stakeholder expectations (e.g., performance to specification, key KPIs), minimizing risk to the organization and delivering on cost and other business goals
• Develop and implement sourcing strategies. Key strategic components to include the following:
  • Joint process improvements with suppliers
  • Product specification optimization
  • Supplier relationship management
  • Volume concentration
  • Best price evaluation
  • Global sourcing
• Support the Directors, Strategic Sourcing on complex strategy development
• Coordinate and launch RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs to optimize cost and drive supplier selection, negotiations, and business allocations
• Articulate creative and complex strategies ensuring supply and competitive market positions to key stakeholders
• Execute swift purchasing decisions based on market-based price and volume opportunities
• Identify and articulate arbitrage opportunities to business leaders
• Challenge current sourcing processes with sole intent to better sustain business continuity
• Develop, monitor, manage, and report on KPIs for agreed-upon categories and/or supply relationships
• Create cost models, leading to understanding of key cost drivers and providing pricing inputs to the Risk Management group (where categorically appropriate) to ensure pricing stability and predictability
• Develop market projection tool, providing price guidance for customers and stakeholders
• Establish relationships with suppliers critical to Hostess to partner on strategy development and drive productivity, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Co-define cost-savings targets through analysis and identification of “addressable” spend and understanding of business goals, deliver against targets, and develop pipeline of viable projects for the future
• Aggregate and apply industry knowledge to maximize category opportunities
• Manage supply base to ensure supply continuity, service, and quality
• Lead management of relationships with key stakeholders within Hostess and with suppliers and identify and seek opportunities for collaboration across business units to deliver best overall value for Hostess
• Partner with business units, R&D, and Operations on continuous improvement, growth, and innovation platforms
• Effectively utilize and contribute to the improvement of systems to effectively make sound business decisions
• Support delivery of departmental goals and metrics
• Develop contingency plans and capacity analyses for assigned categories
• Collaborate with Quality and Compliance on the design and implementation of Quality and Corporate Responsibility Programs
• Collaborate with Operational Procurement team on the management of daily activities and contribute to the development of Operational Analyst(s) directly supporting categories, including but not limited to, POs and item set up
• Demonstrate strong business acumen such as knowledge and understanding of the financials, marketing, and operating functions say of an organization; apply good judgment and make smart decisions
• Comply with Hostess Brands policies (e.g., financial policies, procurement policies, confidentiality, and risk management policies) and communicate policies to suppliers and stakeholders to minimize risks
• Comply with external regulations and requirements for respective categories 

• 5 years’ experience working in progressively larger procurement, supply chain, and/or finance roles required
• Knowledge of market and data analysis, supplier risk management and suppler performance, sourcing category strategy development, negotiation strategy and contract development
• Skilled in presentation development and delivery
• Skilled in MS Office suite including Excel and PowerPoint (v-look up, index, and pivot tables)
• Able to solve difficult problems independently and in a team environment
• Able to manage multiple priorities and drive results
• Able to influence at all levels internally and externally

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain Management, or related field required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree preferred
• Certification and/or License – Active certifications in the fields of Supply Chain Management, Packaging, Project Management, and Engineering preferred

Travel:

• Travel is estimated to be up to 15% to our bakery locations, distribution centers, third party vendors/suppliers, and/or other onsite needs on an annual basis, and as needed