Strategic Sourcing Specialist jobs in Nebraska

Why Cohere?

Innovation operational excellence = the Cohere Beauty difference. Cohere career opportunities afford terrific opportunities for creative and diverse individuals to work and grow in a dynamic manufacturing environment. Our people are known for operational excellence and our products are amongst the leading in our field of expertise.

Strategic Sourcing Manager

(Ideal candidate has experience with sourcing bottles, caps, and packaging) - This is an on-site position.

The Strategic Sourcing Manager manages the overall strategic sourcing process for Cohere’s packaging components. This position will help lead the sourcing team and actively source and manage projects from conception through execution, interacting cross-functionally with key individuals and teams to ensure products deliver the desired brand attributes while meeting quality standards, regulatory requirements, cost targets, and delivery timelines. They will drive continuous improvement activities and cost-reduction initiatives with suppliers and customers to maintain margins and leverage spending efficiencies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Source components and other materials as assigned for new and existing customer projects by quickly ascertaining project requirements, working with suppliers to identify the right products at the best price, and adhering to project timelines.
• Mentor and lead the sourcing team by building a culture of quality work and accountability.
• Streamline sourcing tasks to increase efficiency and meet customer and company timelines.
• Creatively balance customer needs with project budgetary constraints and operational efficiencies to produce win-win solutions.
• Ensure all required sampling, testing, validation, and approval milestones are accomplished in a timely manner.
• Build strategic partnerships with key suppliers to optimize profitability, increase on-time delivery, and improve quality. Evaluate existing supplier relationships to expand reliable primary and secondary sources while promoting competition and uninterrupted supply.
• Incorporate knowledge across the packaging industry, including developing business plans, market assessment, and product availability; understand related commodities that can affect designated product prices.
• Develop and implement sourcing strategies to sustain ongoing category improvements to reduce costs and optimize the manufacturability of components.
• Ensure satisfactory quality compliance of components and packaging and mitigate any issues that may arise.
• Actively participate in New Product Commercialization meetings to assess and communicate progress with respect to material supply activities to ensure seamless product development and on-time launch.
• Understand and adhere to domestic and international regulatory compliance requirements pertaining to packaging and labeling and other categories as assigned.
• Continuously improve sourcing and workflow tools.
• Build packaging knowledge and expertise within and outside of the Supply Chain department (develop knowledge repositories, train team members, share packaging insights across functions).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, or comparable experience.
• 5-10 years of Sourcing and Procurement experience.
• Must have prior experience leading a team.
• 3-5 years of consumer-packaged goods industry experience with deep packaging knowledge.
• Demonstrated analytical skills.
• Project management experience and mindset.
• Strong negotiation and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work with a sense of urgency and deliver results under pressure; meet assigned deadlines.
• Strong math skills, decision mindset, detail-oriented, organized.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to communicate/collaborate clearly and effectively at all levels of the organization and externally.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ERP systems.
• Ability to maintain regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.

Preferred Knowledge, Certifications, Skills, Abilities:

• Project management and PM tool experience.
• Manufacturing environment experience.
• Strong organization, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Cross-functional experience (planning, purchasing, distribution, operations, sales, warehouse).
• Adaptability – open to and actively solicit new ideas and opinions.
• Familiar with package engineering concepts.
• CPIM, and CPM certification desirable.

Environmental Conditions:

• Primarily office condition—climate controlled.