Corporate - Purchasing Manager (CoMan and CoPack)

T. Marzetti Company - Columbus, OH

Full-time - Mid Level

Columbus, OH

Food Manufacturing

About the position

T. Marzetti Company, a subsidiary of Lancaster Colony Corporation, is seeking a Purchasing Manager to oversee strategic sourcing activities for Contract Manufacturing (CoMan) and Contract Packaging (CoPack) spend. This role is crucial as it involves managing complex categories that significantly impact both the Supply Chain and the overall company operations. The Purchasing Manager will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ideate, develop, and launch new products into retail stores, ensuring that the procurement processes align with the company's goals and cost-saving targets. The Purchasing Manager will be responsible for finding, vetting, and qualifying new CoMans and CoPackers, ensuring that they are prepared to launch new initiatives through Stage Gate processes. This includes analyzing cost models to verify accurate pricing and managing supplier invoices. The role also involves coordinating with Demand and Supply teams to manage supply and inventory levels, anticipating future demand and supply gaps, and ensuring that production and supply are available for transportation and receipt into distribution centers. In addition, the Purchasing Manager will lead sourcing and negotiations with CoMans and CoPackers, manage supplier relationships, and ensure compliance with contracts and operational efficiencies. Monthly KPI meetings will be conducted with CoMans and CoPackers, focusing on quality metrics in collaboration with the Quality Assurance team. The position also supports innovation projects by vetting and qualifying new CoMans and CoPackers, which may include site visits to assess operational capabilities. This role requires a strategic mindset combined with tactical execution, as the Purchasing Manager will contribute to long-term strategies, cost savings opportunities, and vendor management initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess a strong procurement background, excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to influence business decisions effectively.

Responsibilities

• Support the finding, vetting, and qualifying of new Contract Manufacturers (CoMans) and Contract Packers (CoPackers).
• Work on Stage Gate initiatives to ensure CoMan/CoPack is prepared to launch new initiatives.
• Analyze the Cost Models (Bill of Materials) to ensure accurate and best pricing, including quarterly price updates and verification of supplier invoices.
• Support setting up new CoMans/CoPackers, including costing, suppliers, and manufacturing.
• Coordinate with Demand and Supply teams to manage supply and inventories with available capacity.
• Identify future pinch points when demand outpaces supply and manage on a monthly basis when future gaps are identified.
• Manage attainment, throughput rates, CoMan/CoPack schedules, and capacities to ensure production/supply is available for transportation and receipt into distribution centers.
• Manage CoMan/CoPack operations to avoid customer shortages, working cross-functionally with Supply and Transportation Teams.
• Lead sourcing and negotiations at CoMans/CoPackers, as well as day-to-day supplier and SKU management.
• Responsible for CoMan/CoPacker relationship management, including understanding CoMan capabilities, contracts, and capacity to drive compliance and efficiencies.
• Lead KPI monthly meetings with CoMan/CoPacker, working with the QA team on quality metrics.
• Support CoMan/CoPacker innovation projects with sourcing, vetting, and qualifying CoMan/CoPacker, including site visits to understand operational and supply chain capabilities.
• Contribute to CoMan/CoPacker strategies, including analysis, negotiations, and long-term vision.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to lead contract negotiations with CoMan and Co-Packers, developing negotiation methods and acceptable terms and conditions through contract completion.
• Support the Sr. Director of CoMan with cost savings opportunities, strategies, cash flow improvement, negotiations, vendor change management, and alternate supplier initiatives.

Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Preferred 4+ years of purchasing experience.
• SAP experience preferred.
• Strong written, verbal, and listening skills.
• Ability to effectively negotiate and influence business decisions and change.
• High results-orientation.