Manage packaging & other ingredients portfolios

Managed categories of ingredients end-to-end, responsible for $110 million in annual spend. Achieved $2 million of cost savings through the 2024 RFP in a category with $13 million in annual spend, along with an additional $1.5 million of cost savings by influencing supplier’s upstream strategy through the development of a rebate program. Drove cost model (COGs) optimization through RFIs & RFPs, expanded cost models, and should cost analysis. As the category expert, worked cross-functionally with several channels, including sales, marketing, business planning, forecasting, and production/manufacturing teams. Identified new suppliers and partnered with R&D and quality to vet them using the supplier qualification process. Accelerated regenerative agriculture, greenhouse gas reduction, and responsible sourcing sustainability initiatives. Communicated with vendors, plants, and internal teams, led contract negotiation, and achieved cost savings.

• Supported buyers across categories responsible for $650 million in annual spend.• Assisted in the execution of new suppliers and new material codes following the loss of a major strategic supplier, who supplied 47 material codes, to ensure no plant downtime would be caused during the transition.• Facilitated weekly open order report meeting with major strategic supplier and internal teams to review orders that are or will be late, to ensure the 40 internal plants involved would have ample inventory and continue production without downtime.• Communicated with demand planners and other internal teams to provide suppliers with accurate forecasts.• Performed complex and large data pulls in ERP tool and other analytical systems to support buyer initiatives.

• Provided Operations Management course support to undergraduate students within the Opus College of Business.• Assisted students with understanding concepts, completing homework, and exam preparation.

• Formalized the annual risk process timeline and made recommendations to buyers and sourcing leadership to help influence and support the global supply risk initiative.• Assessed current state of critical risk single-source items responsible for $65 million in annual spend.• Analyzed risk by looking at each item’s spend, number of products, and annual profit margin by product.• Partnered with sourcing team and cross-functionally to develop a supplier questionnaire, to vet suppliers during RFP process and drive buyer efficiency.

• Managed purchase orders for parts and materials based on demand and supplier lead times.• Communicated with 300+ suppliers to audit current NDAs and quality documents for contract expirations, compliance with current standards, and overall accuracy of supplier documents.• Accurately executed document control practices to update supplier information in the ERP system.

• Planned 25 weekly live entertainment events for students, which included securing the talent, catering, and tech.• Worked within a $75,000 budget to invite artists from all over the U.S. to campus through entertainment agencies.