Job Description
Job Title: Procurement Manager
Location: Springfield, MO (possibly open to remote)
Reports to: TBD
Department: Procurement
Employment Type: Full-Time
Job Summary:
LinkOne is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Procurement Manager to lead the sourcing and procurement of agricultural ingredients and co-products for use in our human and pet food businesses. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring the consistent supply of high-quality raw materials and co-products at optimal cost, while managing supplier relationships, contracts, and procurement strategies in line with business goals.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Sourcing:
Develop and execute sourcing strategies for new and existing raw materials and co-products, ensuring competitive pricing, quality standards, and continuity of supply. - Supplier Management:
Identify, evaluate, manage and expand supplier and grower relationships and networks. Negotiate terms, build strong relationships, and monitor performance to ensure service levels, compliance, and innovation. - Market Intelligence:
Monitor global and regional markets, pricing trends, weather patterns, crop reports, and other external factors that may affect availability and pricing. - Contract Negotiation:
Draft, review, and negotiate contracts with suppliers and cooperatives to secure favorable terms and mitigate risk. - Quality Assurance:
Work closely with the quality and technical teams to ensure suppliers meet required food safety, traceability, and sustainability standards. - Budgeting and Cost Control:
Develop annual procurement budgets, track spend, identify cost-saving opportunities, and report variances. - Logistics and Planning:
Coordinate with sales, operations, and production planning teams to ensure timely delivery of goods and avoid supply disruptions. - Sustainability and Compliance:
Promote ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship, and adherence to all regulatory and food safety requirements.
Qualifications and Skills:
- Bachelor's degree in Agribusiness, Supply Chain, Procurement, or related field
- Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in procurement of agricultural ingredients or co-products.
- Strong understanding of agricultural supply chains, seasonal availability, perishability, and global sourcing.
- Proven negotiation skills and experience in contract management.
- Excellent analytical, forecasting, and decision-making abilities.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with cross-functional collaboration.
- Experience working with growers, co-ops, and agricultural trading companies.
Desirable Experience:
- Previous procurement experience in food or pet food manufacturing sectors.
- Knowledge of commodity trading, futures, and hedging strategies.
- Familiarity with sustainability certifications (e.g., Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance).