Now Brewing - category sourcing manager, Customer Distribution Centers (CDC)! #tobeapartnerThe Category Sourcing Manager, CDCs, is responsible for developing and executing the sourcing strategy for Starbucks' North American distribution center network. This role manages strategic supplier relationships, leads complex commercial negotiations, drives value creation, and partners cross functionally with Supply Chain, Distribution Operations, Finance, Legal, and senior leadership to optimize cost, service, innovation, and operational resilience.
The role requires balancing commercial excellence with operational continuity while supporting one of Starbucks' most critical supply chain networks.
As a category sourcing manager, CDCs , you will...
- Develop and execute multiyear category strategies for CDCs aligned with enterprise supply chain objectives.
- Lead complex sourcing events, competitive bids, contract negotiations, and supplier selection processes for large scale logistics and warehouse operations.
- Own strategic supplier relationships with third party logistics providers through structured governance including executive business reviews, performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Deliver measurable cost savings, productivity improvements, and total cost of ownership optimization while maintaining operational excellence.
- Partner closely with Distribution Operations, Finance, Network Planning, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, Legal, and Risk teams to align sourcing decisions with business priorities.
- Lead commercial negotiations for contract renewals, expansions, new site launches, and network optimization initiatives.
- Develop robust financial models, should cost analyses, market intelligence, benchmarking, and business cases to support executive decision making.
- Monitor supplier performance against KPIs including service levels, cost performance, safety, quality, inventory accuracy, and operational excellence.
- Identify supply market trends, emerging capabilities, digital innovations, automation opportunities, and strategic partnerships that improve network competitiveness.
- Drive supplier innovation programs focused on productivity, automation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
- Manage contractual risk, business continuity planning, and supplier compliance across the portfolio.
- Present sourcing strategies, negotiation outcomes, and executive recommendations to senior leadership.
- Mentor team members and contribute to the continuous evolution of sourcing best practices.
We'd love to hear from people with:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Law or related field.
- 7+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, logistics, distribution, or warehouse operations.
- Experience leading complex sourcing events and commercial negotiations involving multi-million-dollar contracts.
- Experience developing category strategies and managing supplier relationships.
- Strong financial acumen including cost modeling, business case development, and total cost of ownership analysis.
- Experience collaborating with cross functional stakeholders across multiple business functions.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to influence without authority to drive decisions across all organizational levels.
- Willingness to travel as business needs require.
Preferred qualifications:
- MBA or Master's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Engineering, or related discipline.
- Experience sourcing third party logistics, warehousing, fulfillment, or distribution center operations.
- Experience managing categories exceeding US$400 million in annual spend.
- Demonstrated success delivering significant negotiated savings and operational improvements.
- Experience supporting network optimization, facility launches, warehouse automation, or large-scale transformation initiatives.
- Knowledge of logistics pricing models including cost plus, fixed fee, gainshare, and performance based commercial structures.
- Experience leading executive supplier governance including Quarterly Business Reviews and Executive Business Reviews.
- Familiarity with procurement technologies such as SAP Ariba, contract lifecycle management platforms, and spend analytics tools.
- Strong understanding of supply chain risk management, supplier performance management, and strategic relationship management.
- Experience working in a highly matrixed, global organization.
- Lean Six Sigma, CPSM, CSCP, PMP, or equivalent professional certification preferred.
As a Starbucks partner, you (and your family) will have access to medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, and other voluntary insurance benefits. Partners have access to short-term and long-term disability, paid parental leave, family expansion reimbursement, paid vacation from date of hire*, sick time (accrued at 1 hour for every 25 hours worked), eight paid holidays, and two personal days per year. Starbucks also offers eligible partners participation in a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, a discounted company stock program (S.I.P.), Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock), incentivized emergency savings, and financial well-being tools. Additionally, Starbucks offers 100% upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor's degree through Arizona State University's online program via the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, student loan management resources, and access to other educational opportunities. You will also have access to backup care and DACA reimbursement. Starbucks will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, and in accordance with its plans and policies. This list is subject to change depending on collective bargaining in locations where partners have a certified bargaining representative. For additional information regarding partner perks and more detailed information about benefits, go to starbucksbenefits.com .
*If you are working in CA, CO, IL, LA, ME, MA, NE, ND or RI, you will accrue vacation up to a maximum of 120 hours (190 in CA) for roles below director and 200 hours (316 in CA) for roles at director or above. For roles in other states, you will be granted vacation time starting at 120 hours annually for roles below director and 200 hours annually for roles director and above.
The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. At Starbucks, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
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Join us and inspire with every cup. Apply today! 
