Position Summary:

The Sourcing Manager is responsible for sourcing ingredients for new and existing Clif Bar products and ensuring a source of supply to meet rapidly growing sales forecast. This position works closely with Brand, R&D, Food Safety, and Sustainability in identifying new and alternative ingredients, negotiating agreements with suppliers and working with suppliers to insure compliance to Clif Bar’s code of conduct.

Candidates should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-energy and innovative environment. Strong technical skills, knowledge of organic ingredient industry, passion for food and strong interpersonal skills are highly desired.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Collaboratively works with Brand, R&D, Food Safety, and Sustainability in the identification, selection and certification of new suppliers and ingredients.
  
Manages raw material contracts with suppliers and co-packers to ensure compliance of terms, safety stocks, lead-times and usage. Facilitates discussion between suppliers and co-packers to enable supply assurance.
Stays abreast of market conditions affecting raw material markets and develops strategies to mitigate risks.
Proactively seeks out new organic and conventional ingredient sourcing for new products and continually develops secondary supplier network.
Resolves raw ingredient shortages with our co-packers by creatively sourcing alternate supplies while managing quality, supply assurance and pricing constraints.
Negotiates pricing and agreements with key suppliers to ensure a continuous source of supply to support the overall business needs. Resolves pricing discrepancies.
Identifies cost savings opportunities and develops recommendations to reduce costs and improve efficiencies.
Participates in the development of supply strategies, to mitigate risk, ensure current and future supply and manage cost.

Job Difficulty

The Sourcing Manager operates in an environment where organic supply is limited and production volume fluctuates across brands. Clif Bar is continually innovating with new and unique ingredients sourced from both domestic and international suppliers.

The role is challenged to continually reevaluate new or alternative sources of supply, facilitate the qualification of suppliers, and develop and implement tactical plans and procedures to support business growth.  The incumbent must ground his/her decision-making on Clif Bar’s 5 Aspirations:  Sustaining our Brands, Business, Community, Planet and People.  Balances knowledge and understanding of Clif Bar’s company philosophy, brand strategies, national sales and marketing plans, objectives, strategies and tactics of operations and supply chain, as well as maintain in-depth knowledge of product features, ingredients and values, in order to effectively support sourcing strategies and commercial needs.

Successful performance requires effective collaboration with the Brand, R&D, Food Safety, Operations, Sustainability, and Finance groups to resolve operational problems and facilitate integrated decision making across functions.  Must demonstrate a commitment to Clif Bar’s “Ingredients” for teamwork and success (to create, inspire, connect, own it, and be yourself).

Education and Experience:

• Candidate background should include:
  
  • Minimum of Bachelors degree with Masters Degree preferred.
    
  • 5 – 10 years of relevant experience required, including responsibility for selection and management of suppliers, negotiating pricing, risk management, and contract management.
    
  • Knowledge of ingredient sourcing and experience with R&D and quality control processes

• A successful candidate will have:
  
  • Strong interpersonal skills
    
  • Project management experience
    
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration abilities and excellent internal and external communication skills
    
  • Strong & demonstrated negotiation skills
    
  • Ability to proactively lead and make well reasoned recommendations in changing environment

• Position operates independently with some supervision
  
• Consumer products and/or food industry experience preferred
  
• Food science background desirable.