Senior Manager, Category Management – Direct Materials

A leading food manufacturing organisation is seeking an experienced Senior Manager, Category Management to lead strategic sourcing and category management across a portfolio of critical direct material categories.Working closely with senior stakeholders across Procurement, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Quality and R&D, this role will play a key part in developing category strategies, strengthening supplier relationships, managing commodity and supply risks, and delivering sustainable cost optimisation.The successful candidate will bring strong experience across direct materials procurement and strategic sourcing, ideally within a food manufacturing or food ingredients environment, alongside proven leadership experience and the ability to influence stakeholders across a complex organisation.This is a senior procurement leadership opportunity based in San Antonio, TX, with responsibility for developing procurement capability while supporting key commercial and operational objectives.Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop and execute strategic sourcing and category management strategies across key direct material categories.Manage categories including proteins, dairy, fats, grains, starches, ingredients and related materials.Lead supplier selection, negotiations, contract management and ongoing supplier relationship development.Monitor commodity markets, industry trends and supply conditions to identify opportunities and manage risk.Drive competitive sourcing, benchmarking and cost optimisation initiatives across assigned categories.Ensure continuity of supply while balancing cost, quality, service and innovation requirements.Develop and implement contingency strategies to mitigate supply disruption and commodity volatility.Lead regular category and supplier performance reviews, identifying opportunities for improvement and risk mitigation.Identify, deliver and validate sustainable procurement savings in partnership with Finance.Establish and maintain category management standards, sourcing processes and procurement governance.Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Quality and R&D to align procurement strategies with wider business objectives.Support new product development through supplier, ingredient and sourcing initiatives.Lead, coach and develop Category Buyers and other procurement team members.Build strategic sourcing, analytical and category management capabilities across the procurement function.Provide senior leadership with market insights, category recommendations and procurement performance updates.Candidate RequirementsBachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Operations or a related discipline.Minimum of 7 years' experience in procurement, strategic sourcing or category management, including leadership responsibility.Strong experience within food manufacturing, food ingredients or a related consumer goods environment is highly desirable.Proven experience managing direct material categories, strategic sourcing initiatives and complex supplier relationships.Strong understanding of commodity markets, pricing trends and supply risk management.Demonstrated success in supplier negotiations, cost reduction and delivering sustainable procurement savings.Experience leading category reviews, supplier performance management and procurement governance initiatives.Proven ability to lead, coach and develop procurement professionals.Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to analyse costs and identify value opportunities.Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior business leaders and cross-functional teams.Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.Professional procurement qualifications such as CPSM, CPM, CSCP or CPIM would be advantageous.OpportunityThis position offers the opportunity to join an established food manufacturing organisation in a senior procurement leadership capacity.The role provides significant exposure to senior stakeholders and strategic business initiatives, with the opportunity to shape category strategy, strengthen supplier partnerships, deliver measurable commercial value and develop the organisation's wider procurement capability.