Procurement Manager – Animal & Pet Nutrition Chicago, IL

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We are seeking an experienced Manager Procurement Animal & Pet Nutrition to lead strategic sourcing and category management activities across the United States and Canada. This role requires a procurement professional with deep expertise in the Animal Nutrition and Pet Food industries including a strong understanding of ingredients supply markets manufacturing requirements regulatory considerations and supplier networks.
The successful candidate will serve as a strategic business partner developing sourcing strategies that ensure supply continuity support growth manage risk and deliver value across a complex portfolio of ingredients and raw materials. The role will also provide leadership and development for a team of 23 direct reports while partnering closely with Operations Quality Regulatory R&D Commercial and Supply Chain leaders throughout North America.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Supply Assurance
Develop and execute sourcing strategies for Animal and Pet Nutrition ingredients across the United States and Canada.
Build and maintain deep knowledge of ingredient markets industry trends supply dynamics and emerging risks.
Create and implement business continuity and risk mitigation plans for critical materials.
Lead category planning activities aligned with business growth profitability and operational objectives.
Identify opportunities for supplier diversification second sourcing and supply chain resilience.
Industry & Supplier Leadership
Leverage extensive industry relationships and market knowledge to identify strategic sourcing opportunities.
Develop executive-level supplier relationships and lead supplier performance management programs.
Conduct strategic negotiations and manage commercial agreements that optimize cost service quality and innovation.
Monitor commodity ingredient transportation and regulatory developments impacting Animal and Pet Nutrition markets.
Represent the company in industry forums supplier meetings and market intelligence activities.
People Leadership
Lead coach and develop a team of 23 procurement professionals supporting the Animal and Pet Nutrition business.
Establish clear objectives development plans and performance expectations for direct reports.
Foster a culture of accountability collaboration continuous improvement and customer focus.
Build procurement capabilities that support both current business needs and future growth.
Stakeholder Partnership
Superior collaborate skills with cross-functional stakeholders and partners including Operations Commercial R&D Quality Regulatory and Supply Chain teams to support business objectives.
Provide market intelligence pricing forecasts and risk assessments to leadership.
Support new product development initiatives through supplier engagement and ingredient sourcing expertise.
Influence business decisions through data-driven recommendations and procurement leadership.
Operational Excellence
Drive procurement process improvements and best practices across sourcing and supplier management activities.
Utilize spend analytics supplier scorecards contract management systems and procurement tools to improve performance.
Ensure compliance with procurement policies quality standards regulatory requirements and sustainability objectives.
Performance & Value Delivery
Establish and monitor category performance metrics.
Deliver measurable value through cost optimization working capital improvements risk reduction and supply assurance.
Report category performance market conditions and strategic initiatives to regional and global leadership.
Support long-term business growth through proactive category management and strategic supplier partnerships.

Additional Qualifications/Responsibilities
Qualifications & Experience

Required
Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Business Agricultural Economics Animal Science Food Science or related field.
10 years of procurement sourcing category management commercial or supply chain experience within the Animal Nutrition Pet Food Feed Ingredient Feed Additive Premix or Agricultural Ingredient industries.
Demonstrated expertise in Animal and Pet Nutrition ingredient markets including proteins amino acids vitamins minerals feed additives specialty ingredients fats and oils grains and related raw materials.
Proven success developing sourcing strategies negotiating complex commercial agreements and managing strategic supplier relationships.
Previous experience leading coaching and developing procurement professionals.
Strong understanding of ingredient manufacturing supply chains quality requirements and regulatory considerations within Animal and Pet Nutrition.
Experience managing supply disruptions market volatility and business continuity planning.
Exceptional analytical financial and negotiation skills.
Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence stakeholders across all organizational levels.
Preferred
MBA or Masters degree in a related discipline.
Experience supporting both Animal Nutrition and Pet Food businesses across North America.
Knowledge of North American and global ingredient supply markets.
Experience with SAP Coupa Ariba JDE AS400 or similar procurement and ERP platforms.
Familiarity with commodity risk management contract law and advanced negotiation frameworks.
Experience leading cross-functional projects and strategic transformation initiatives.
What Success Looks Like
Maintains uninterrupted supply of critical ingredients supporting business growth throughout the United States and Canada.
Anticipates market risks and proactively develops mitigation strategies.
Delivers measurable cost savings and value creation while protecting service and quality.
Serves as the organizations subject matter expert on Animal and Pet Nutrition ingredient markets.
Develops a high-performing procurement team capable of supporting future business growth.
Builds strategic supplier partnerships that create competitive advantage.