Purchasing Category Manager

Joining Nortera means choosing opportunities to grow together!As the North American leader in ready-to-cook vegetables, we are committed to contributing to the well-being of society by providing access to healthy and sustainable food.Nortera produces major private and retail brands and markets its own brand Arctic Gardens.WHY CHOOSE NORTERA?Competitive salary and Annual bonus program;Group Health Insurance program w/HSA or FSA;Dental/Vision Insurance and several supplemental Insurance options;Retirement savings plan with employer contribution;Paid Vacation and Paid Holidays;Employee Assistance program;Reimbursement for tuition fees and physical activity;Referral program; Hybrid Work Schedule;Environment that fosters learning and professional development;Opportunities to work on inspiring projects in a growing company!As a Purchasing Category Manager for Processed Fruits & Vegetables, you’ll shape our global supply chain by securing high-quality raw materials, ingredients and consumer packaged goods, optimizing costs, and advancing our sustainability and quality goals. This role goes beyond routine procurement, focusing on strategic initiatives, data-driven decision making, and alignment with new product development, packaging, and production timelines to drive growth and profitability.You’ll collaborate with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to build a resilient, innovative supply chain. THE ROLE:Develop Strategic Sourcing Plans: Evaluate global market trends for processed fruits and vegetables, including crop availability, to inform sourcing strategies. Conduct thorough cost and risk analyses, leveraging data to make calculated decisions that optimize efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance supply chain value;Develop and maintain global market intelligence and cost benchmarking, ensuring Nortera maintains visibility into global pricing and competitive positioning;Manage Global Supplier Relationships: Source, evaluate, and onboard suppliers worldwide for raw materials, ingredients and finished goods, leading contract negotiations, pricing agreements, and performance oversight through planned decision making to align with business objectives. Conduct supplier visits and due diligence as needed;Represent Nortera at supplier meetings, trade shows, and industry events to strengthen visibility and partnerships;Drive Innovation and New Product Development: Partner with R&D, Sales, and Marketing to make decisions on sourcing for new product launches, ensuring alignment with project timelines, production schedules, and crop availability;Optimize Operations: Leverage data to refine procurement processes, track cost savings, align sourcing with production schedules, and make decisions to implement new systems while defining and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs);Deliver year-over-year cost reductions on key ingredients, improve supplier service levels, and contribute to margin growth through and innovation through sourcing.Mitigate Risks: Monitor commodity pricing, crop availability, and CPG’s trends to make proactive decisions that anticipate and address supply chain risks.YOUR PROFILE:Strategic Vision: proven ability to develop and execute global sourcing strategies for raw materials and new product initiatives, ensuring all tactical actions directly support the company’s long-term business objectives.Effective Communication: Skilled at conveying complex information clearly to diverse stakeholders in English and French.Analytical Expertise: Proficient in data analysis, managing competitive bids (RFIs, RFQs) for ingredients and finished goods, and creating data-driven presentations to support decision making.Collaborative Leadership: Adept at leading projects, fostering strong relationships with internal teams and external partners, and making decisions that drive collaboration across new product and packaging development.Proactive Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-paced environment, identifying and solving challenges through decisive actions to deliver value while aligning with production schedules and crop availability.QUALIFICATIONS:Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field / Master’s degree is a plus;Minimum 10 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or logistics, with expertise in strategic global sourcing for ingredients, raw materials, or consumer packaged goods. Strong decision-making, negotiation, and analytical skills, plus knowledge of supplier management, cost optimization, sustainability, and regulatory compliance required;Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, in French & English. Fluency in Spanish or Mandarin a plus;Experience with import logistics, customs, and international trade regulations;Background in the food and beverage industry, with experience in new product development and packaging solutions;Knowledge of safety regulations (e.g., FDA, CFIA, USDA) and certifications (e.g., organic, Fair Trade);Experience with procurement software (e.g., SAP, Coupa);Proficiency with AI tools for market intelligence, supplier discovery, communications, and RFX automation is a plus;Familiarity with crop availability cycles and production scheduling in the food industry;The role involves up to 10% domestic and international travel.We need people like you!Come grow with Nortera!While all job applications are considered, only selected candidates will be contacted. The masculine gender may have been used without discrimination and solely for the purpose of lightening the text. We guarantee equal access to employment and encourage diverse applications in order to build a workforce that is diverse and representative of the communities in which we operate.