Job DescriptionManager, Procurement - Animal & Pet Nutrition (North America)Location: Chicago, IL, Oakbrook, IL Harvard, IL; Quincy, IL; Effingham, IL or Kansas City, MO
Reports to: Global Animal and Pet Nutrition Director
Role SummaryWe are seeking an experienced
Manager, Procurement - Animal & Pet Nutrition to lead strategic sourcing and category management activities across the
United States and Canada. This role requires a procurement professional with
deep expertise in the Animal Nutrition and Pet Food industries, including a strong understanding of ingredients, supply markets, manufacturing requirements, regulatory considerations, and supplier networks.
The successful candidate will serve as a strategic business partner, developing sourcing strategies that ensure supply continuity, support growth, manage risk, and deliver value across a complex portfolio of ingredients and raw materials. The role will also provide leadership and development for a team of
2-3 direct reports while partnering closely with Operations, Quality, Regulatory, R&D, Commercial, and Supply Chain leaders throughout North America.
Key ResponsibilitiesCategory Strategy & Supply Assurance- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for Animal and Pet Nutrition ingredients across the United States and Canada.
- Build and maintain deep knowledge of ingredient markets, industry trends, supply dynamics, and emerging risks.
- Create and implement business continuity and risk mitigation plans for critical materials.
- Lead category planning activities aligned with business growth, profitability, and operational objectives.
- Identify opportunities for supplier diversification, second sourcing, and supply chain resilience.
Industry & Supplier Leadership- Leverage extensive industry relationships and market knowledge to identify strategic sourcing opportunities.
- Develop executive-level supplier relationships and lead supplier performance management programs.
- Conduct strategic negotiations and manage commercial agreements that optimize cost, service, quality, and innovation.
- Monitor commodity, ingredient, transportation, and regulatory developments impacting Animal and Pet Nutrition markets.
- Represent the company in industry forums, supplier meetings, and market intelligence activities.
People Leadership- Lead, coach, and develop a team of 2-3 procurement professionals supporting the Animal and Pet Nutrition business.
- Establish clear objectives, development plans, and performance expectations for direct reports.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer focus.
- Build procurement capabilities that support both current business needs and future growth.
Stakeholder Partnership- Superior collaborate skills with cross-functional stakeholders and partners including Operations, Commercial, R&D, Quality, Regulatory, and Supply Chain teams to support business objectives.
- Provide market intelligence, pricing forecasts, and risk assessments to leadership.
- Support new product development initiatives through supplier engagement and ingredient sourcing expertise.
- Influence business decisions through data-driven recommendations and procurement leadership.
Operational Excellence- Drive procurement process improvements and best practices across sourcing and supplier management activities.
- Utilize spend analytics, supplier scorecards, contract management systems, and procurement tools to improve performance.
- Ensure compliance with procurement policies, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and sustainability objectives.
Performance & Value Delivery- Establish and monitor category performance metrics.
- Deliver measurable value through cost optimization, working capital improvements, risk reduction, and supply assurance.
- Report category performance, market conditions, and strategic initiatives to regional and global leadership.
- Support long-term business growth through proactive category management and strategic supplier partnerships.
Qualifications & ExperienceRequired- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Agricultural Economics, Animal Science, Food Science, or related field.
- 10+ years of procurement, sourcing, category management, commercial, or supply chain experience within the Animal Nutrition, Pet Food, Feed Ingredient, Feed Additive, Premix, or Agricultural Ingredient industries.
- Demonstrated expertise in Animal and Pet Nutrition ingredient markets, including proteins, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, feed additives, specialty ingredients, fats and oils, grains, and related raw materials.
- Proven success developing sourcing strategies, negotiating complex commercial agreements, and managing strategic supplier relationships.
- Previous experience leading, coaching, and developing procurement professionals.
- Strong understanding of ingredient manufacturing, supply chains, quality requirements, and regulatory considerations within Animal and Pet Nutrition.
- Experience managing supply disruptions, market volatility, and business continuity planning.
- Exceptional analytical, financial, and negotiation skills.
- Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence stakeholders across all organizational levels.
Preferred- MBA or Master's degree in a related discipline.
- Experience supporting both Animal Nutrition and Pet Food businesses across North America.
- Knowledge of North American and global ingredient supply markets.
- Experience with SAP, Coupa, Ariba, JDE, AS400, or similar procurement and ERP platforms.
- Familiarity with commodity risk management, contract law, and advanced negotiation frameworks.
- Experience leading cross-functional projects and strategic transformation initiatives.
What Success Looks Like- Maintains uninterrupted supply of critical ingredients supporting business growth throughout the United States and Canada.
- Anticipates market risks and proactively develops mitigation strategies.
- Delivers measurable cost savings and value creation while protecting service and quality.
- Serves as the organization's subject matter expert on Animal and Pet Nutrition ingredient markets.
- Develops a high-performing procurement team capable of supporting future business growth.
- Builds strategic supplier partnerships that create competitive advantage.
Why Join Us- Opportunity to lead procurement strategy for a critical and growing North American business.
- Direct responsibility for procurement activities across the United States and Canada.
- Leadership responsibility for a team of procurement professionals.
- Direct exposure to executive leadership and strategic business initiatives.
- Ability to shape supplier partnerships, sourcing strategies, and future growth plans.
- Competitive compensation, benefits, and career development opportunities.
Excited about this role but don't think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.
REF:107853BR
Benefits and Perks Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:
- Physical wellness - medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
- Financial wellness - flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers' compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
- Mental and social wellness - Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).
Additional benefits include:
- Paid time off including paid holidays.
- Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
- Tuition assistance.
- Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.
*Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.
Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.
If hired, employees will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
The pay range for this position is expected to be between:
