The Sr. Sourcing Manager leads efforts in identifying, onboarding, and managing relationships with new and existing growers to secure a consistent, high-quality supply of fresh produce. This role is crucial in negotiating favorable terms, ensuring supply continuity, and working closely with the sales team to meet customer demand.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS/DUTIES OF THE POSITION
- Grower Sourcing & Onboarding
* Identify and establish relationships with new growers to expand the company’s sourcing network.
- Conduct due diligence on potential suppliers to ensure quality, reliability, and compliance with company standards.
- Negotiate favorable pricing, volume commitments, and supply agreements to secure optimal terms.
- Support the review, drafting, negotiating of Sales & Marketing Agreements with growers.
- Supplier Relationship Management
* Serve as an additional point of contact for growers, ensuring strong and sustainable long-term partnerships.
- Proactively address sourcing challenges, resolve supply chain issues, and mitigate risks.
- Monitor supplier performance, conduct regular reviews, and implement corrective actions when necessary.
- Collaborate with internal teams to align sourcing strategies with business goals to maintain a consistent and high-quality supply of fresh produce.
- Supply Assurance
* Work closely with Sales, Category Management, and Supply Chain teams to align sourcing strategies with sales forecasts to ensure consistent availability of high-quality produce.
- Monitor market trends, seasonal availability, and grower production cycles to anticipate supply fluctuations.
- Assist in managing inventory, balancing supply and demand, and minimizing waste.
- Implement quality control measures to ensure product meets customer expectations.
- Provide market intelligence and insights to support pricing, promotions, and procurement planning.
- Collaborate with Finance and Accounts Payable to manage grower payments and resolve any issues.
- Prepare reports with relevant information of the department’s activities, projects, and other responsibilities to provide the senior management for analysis and decision making.
- Other duties as assigned.
INTERNAL & EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Internal
- Logistics- Coordinate deliveries of customers product when needed; to coordinate sales demand with sourcing volumes
- Product managers- Discuss where market and selling prices will be
- Accounting-Work to resolve customer aging, customer claims and grower financials
External:
- Customers- Daily interaction with customer to communicate pricing, availability, problem solve and forward plan
- Customer’s payables personnel, manage the day-to-day contact and resolve carrier issues by addressing potential problems and suggesting prompt solutions, to meet their requirements
Required Skills
** _WORK HOUR REQUIREMENT
_**
- Must be available to work irregular and/or changing shifts including holidays and weekends.
- Work extended hours and some weekends, per business needs.
- Ability to be available electronically as needed.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to travel up to 25% nationally and internationally, including regular overnight stays.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to use phone, computer, and other basic office equipment
- Ability to climb stairs, be stationary for long periods of time, and stoop, bend, and lift up to 25 lbs.
Required Experience
** JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES**
- 8+ years sourcing experience and/or grower relations.
- Proven track record in securing new business.
- Extensive knowledge in fresh produce, with experience in berries preferable.
- Experienced, results-driven, a skilled negotiator, relationship builder, and problem solver who can drive sourcing strategies while effectively managing grower relationships.
- Demonstrate ability to lead others through effective communication, motivation, trustworthiness, through positive reinforcement and able to delegate to subordinates’ mission critical tasks.
- Ability to impact others through work performance and result driven actions.
- Must have effective interpersonal skills that demonstrate your ability to work and get along with peers, subordinates, and business partners.
- Must be able to understand customer product demands and update forecasting systems appropriately.
- The ability to identify problems and have diverse problem-solving skills that rectify problems in a quick fashion.
- Strong communication skills required (written and verbal).
- Able to negotiate profitable supply agreements/sales & marketing agreements with key personnel that prove successful for all involved.
- General knowledge of the P&L with ability to create and manage a working sales/product budget.
- Maintain current knowledge of industry trends and product development.
- Strong computer skills including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook as part of the daily job function.
- Knowledge of wide variety of crops (especially berries) and growing seasons is critical for the success of this position.
- Bi-lingual in English & Spanish (required)
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION
- Bachelor of Arts or Science Degree in Business Management/Sales or combination of college and applicable work experience