Senior Procurement Manager

The Senior Strategic Alliance & Procurement Manager will manage all elements of Vended Crop Protection (CP) procurement, including developing manufacturer alliances, product sourcing, program management, competitive net cost positions, inventory management, cash management, and risk mitigation. Ensure crop protection product requirements are met through sourcing negotiations, strong business relationships, and sound decision-making practices. Strong collaborator and communicator with a team-first style who partners effectively with Marketing, Distribution, Finance, Agronomy & Product Development, Sales, and External Suppliers and thrives in a fast-paced environment on a highly influential team.

This role is located at our Arden Hills, MN corporate headquarters (hybrid work arrangement each week)

Primary responsibilities include:

Supplier Collaboration:

• Collaborate internally and externally to best align manufacturer and Winfield United growth strategies into a joint, executable plan

• Strong influence into WFU P&L and retail growth abilities through cost negotiation and growth strategy implementation

• Represent Winfield United as the key point of contact for all items related to manufacturers and build strong communication with all stakeholders including retail partners

• Negotiate annual supply agreements including rebate structure, sales and purchase forecasts, terms, and investments into WinField United initiatives

• Communicate daily with manufacturer Key Account Managers

• Collaborate with manufacturers’ Senior Executive Leadership as appropriate to influence strategic planning

• Coordinate with appropriate internal departments, including Executive Leadership Team, to achieve alignment with manufacturers (i.e. – joint Marketing initiatives, Agronomy & Product Development research, etc.)

• Risk management: Negotiate to minimize risk with manufacturers that can negatively impact financial performance (inventory protection, price protection, discontinued products, swaps, etc.)

Internal Alignment:

• Coordinate closely with Marketing, Sales, and Supply Chain to resolve issues with supply, competitive offers, and product direction

• Coordinate with Marketing, Demand Planning, Finance, and others to create financial and volume forecast; annual, quarterly, monthly, with regular check-in for accuracy and adjustment

• Ownership of negotiated rebate structures, coordination with all internal stakeholders and peer Procurement Managers to maximize total rebate incentive earnings

• Ownership of purchase strategy and coordination with Supply Chain and Marketing to execute strategy, manage purchases, inventory levels, and product allocations

• Work closely with Joint Venture accounts, and Retail Alliance owners to provide guidance on manufacturer programs and supply.  This includes interaction with Retail Owner CEO’s, Agronomy Managers, and others as appropriate

Project Management:

• Serve as the expert on all things related to assigned manufacturers, including presenting internally and externally on all aspects of suppliers’ business

• Knowledge and influence of manufacturers’ innovation pipelines, representing annual investments of $2-3 billion, resulting in WinField United’s involvement in testing and pre-launch activities

• Understanding of manufacturers’ portfolios and life-cycle management strategies to negotiate opportunities for access to WinField United private-label brands, technical registrations, and loyalty agreements

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or Business-related field required along with 8+ years of relevant experience, ideally in CP procurement, marketing, or sales

• Proactive communicator with exceptional written, verbal, and formal presentation skills

• Trustworthy with a strong level of personal commitment

• Proven ability to coordinate and collaborate with multiple stakeholders

• Ability to make sound decisions and complete tasks in a fast-paced work environment

• Ability to work independently and manage productivity

• Experience demonstrating agility and leading/adapting quickly to change

• Solid experience using Microsoft products (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• 10-15% overnight travel required

$120,880-$181,320.  In most cases, candidates offered employment can expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges. 

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

Benefits for most full-time roles include medical, dental, vision, PTO, life & disability insurance, education assistance, a 401k and a variety of well-being resources. Most part-time employees are eligible for prorated PTO, holiday pay, employee development programs, prorated education assistance, and a 401(k).

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.