Indirect Lead Category Buyer

Position Summary:

The Indirect Lead Category Buyer develops and executes comprehensive North American indirect procurement strategies. Investigates, analyzes, and takes action on buying and savings opportunities. Leads negotiation of fully landed product and service costs. Delivers strategic insight and critical thinking for short and long term indirect procurement initiatives. Implements and confirms accurate attributes within purchase agreements and source-to-pay platforms. Advances procurement technology and leverages tools in everyday sourcing activities. Collaborates with principal stakeholders including senior leadership. Accountable for maintaining an appropriate knowledge of product categories, suppliers and markets. Invests heavily in and evolves supplier relationships.

What you will do:

Leadership

• Leads and manages all procurement process activities for assigned North American Indirect categories in support of business commitments and initiatives. Works across:

  • 6000+ suppliers

  • 2000+ indirect spend stakeholders

  • 150+ indirect spend categories

  • All business groups including US Distribution, Canadian Distribution, Specialty Companies, Stores, and Strategic Alliances

• Develops supplier strategies and leads North American negotiations.

• Influences and leads stakeholder groups throughout the company (including US, Canada, Stores, and Specialty Companies); ensures engagement across internal groups and promotes cross-functional partnering.

• Engages with Sr. Leadership, communicating key updates and impacts to Sr. team members. Leads key initiatives involving Sr. executives including C-suite team members.

Vision & Planning

• Owns the development and implementation of the Annual Operating Plan negotiation calendar and corresponding savings/uncovered value financial commitments, including regular status updates.

• Leads the planning and execution of strategies resulting in optimal value for Gordon Food Service by balancing fully landed cost of goods/services (bottom line), without compromising commitments to growth (top line) and enabling continuous improvement goals.

• Consistently applies critical thinking to everyday procurement activities as well as longer term business objectives.

• Leverages data and procurement analysis tools to derive insights and determine potential sourcing options in support of stakeholder needs.

Communication & Relationship Building

• Owns the engagement of shareholders (i.e., divisions, specialty companies, stores, etc.) to understand business needs, and responsible for developing negotiation strategies to achieve objectives.

• Leads critical discussions with business owners, leaders, and key decision makers within the supply base to achieve unique, collaborative, yet globally competitive sourcing solutions that differentiate GFS from its competitors.

• Owns communication of negotiation updates to stakeholder teams.

• Establishes relationships with key suppliers for current and future procurement initiatives.

Category & Supplier Management

• Drives collaboration with functional stakeholders to gain business insight, leading to sourcing alternatives.

• Responsible for all phases of Competitive Market Reviews for defined product/service categories, including development of negotiation strategies, tactics, and execution plans to achieve desired outcomes, as well as the accurate transfer of negotiation points into a signed agreement and archived into the agreement system.

• Ensures agreement process results in accurate contract implementation as well as non-price considerations throughout the business cycle.

• Responsible for analyzing various inputs (ranging from cost, quality, support, service) and executing best value sourcing solutions.

• Critically monitors and analyzes assigned product/service categories and related markets for cost-savings opportunities.

• Achieves value realization goals while ensuring mutual ownership (with stakeholders) of sourcing goals.

• Sources supplies and items that meet defined specifications, performance, or functionality.

• Continually seeks to drive procurement process efficiencies.

• Seeks to intentionally identify women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned and disability-owned businesses for the purpose of supporting Gordon Food Service Supplier diversity initiatives.

Performs other duties as assigned.

When you will work:

• Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm.

• Hybrid Work Schedule: 4 days in office, 1 day from home.

What you will bring to the table:

• Typical requirements for this job include advanced education (bachelor's degree) plus seven or more years of procurement related experience (preferably in the food service industry).

• Demonstrated success with negotiations and working knowledge of sourcing strategies required.

• If no degree, ten or more years of relevant experience required.

• This position requires excellent leadership abilities and a positive attitude with a commitment to personal and professional success.

• Must have excellent analytical skills and be detail oriented with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills.

• Must be able to accept and accomplish multiple and diverse assignments.

• Must be able to work independently and in a team environment.

• This position also requires a professional demeanor, honesty, integrity, drive, tenacity, determination, and a willingness to learn.

• Able to develop solutions to a variety of problems of moderate scope and complexity. Refers to policies and practices for guidance.

Gordon Food Service values our customers and understands that their success is largely dependent upon their workforce. To demonstrate our commitment to our partnership, we will require any candidate who works for a Gordon Food Service customer to provide a letter of support from their management if they are selected for the interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity is a matter of policy at Gordon Food Service, Inc. and we are committed to a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to talent@gfs.com and use the words "Accommodation Request" in your subject line.

All Gordon Food Service locations are tobacco-free.

Gordon Food Service is a drug-free workplace and conducts pre-employment drug tests.