Ralcorp Holdings, Inc.

*This position may be located in St. Louis, MO or Dothan, AL*

Responsible for the category sourcing, procurement and supplier management for select nut and fruit categories with an annual spend of $200+ million over multiple Ralcorp plants from over 50 vendors. Actively lead and participate in Ralcorp Network Purchasing initiatives. Manage strategic partnerships between Ralcorp and vendors. Responsible for the total quality, continuous improvement, costs, service and value performance of the vendors supplying our manufacturing facilities. This position reports directly to the Director of Commodity Purchasing and Risk Management.

• Develop and maintain ongoing market insight and knowledge so as to assure Ralcorp is current on all changes associated with the selected commodities, vendors, market conditions and pricing domestically and internationally.
• Effectively lead strategic sourcing efforts for the Corporate Purchasing Network on business unit specific and corporate wide common materials.
• Support the Divisional Procurement in their management of the daily, weekly and ongoing specific commodity needs require meeting product production demands.
• Actively engaged with Research, Quality and Marketing disciplines in finished product improvements and new product development
• Support Sales efforts in communicating commodity markets and outlook
• Responsible to maintain contract files, contract calendars, supplier performance scorecards and purchase price variance analysis.
• Develop and manage annual budgets and assure cost performance goals are met.
  • Assure ingredient supply needs are met so as to meet all production and customer requirements.
• Develop strategies and build necessary relationships with Divisions and suppliers to implement lower cost alternatives as well as meet all commodity quality requirements.
• Work with division, corporate and plant personnel to mitigate risk associated with the cost and supply of selected commodities.
• Support cross functional efforts with Operations, Quality Assurance, R&D and Sales. Included but not limited too new product development, reformulations, process in changes, etc…
  • Cost/Pricing management
  • Supplier management
  • Internal interaction with Operations and Quality performance
  • New product development and Sales and Marketing interaction
  • Network Procurement Team involvement
  • Administrative management

• Bachelor’s degree required, supply chain, agri-business, finance, or related discipline desired.
• Minimum of five to seven years of experience in an ingredient sourcing or procurement management role with direct responsibility for supplier management and pricing/costs decisions required. Focus on tree nuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts. Peanut experience also desired.
• Experience and strong ability to function in a matrix environment
• Working knowledge and experience with strategic sourcing processes
• Demonstrated leadership and project management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Strong PC software application knowledge using Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint
• Position requires up to 30% travel