Procurement Manager
Company: Louisiana Pepper Exchange
Location: New Orleans
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer
Your Opportunity
We are seeking a passionate and strategic Procurement Manager to lead and execute sourcing initiatives that drive value across our organization. In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop procurement strategies that support cost savings, ensure supply continuity, and maintain product quality. Your expertise in supplier qualification, contract negotiation, landed cost analysis, and risk mitigation will play a critical role in optimizing our supply chain.
This is a high-impact position reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, with the opportunity to influence company-wide procurement decisions and long-term sourcing strategies.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead sourcing initiatives, including RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs, to evaluate and establish strategic supplier partnerships
- Identify and implement cost savings opportunities without compromising quality or service
- Perform landed cost analyses and develop models to assess sourcing scenarios
- Qualify, select, and onboard new suppliers in collaboration with internal stakeholders
- Monitor industry trends, commodity markets, and macroeconomic indicators to inform sourcing strategies
- Serve as the internal expert on supplier capabilities, cost structures, and procurement best practices
- Present sourcing recommendations and business cases to executive leadership
- Conduct supplier business reviews to assess performance, innovation potential, and spend optimization
- Collaborate with the S&OP team to align procurement with demand forecasts
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and internal stakeholders
- Negotiate service-level agreements and contractual terms to protect the business and ensure service continuity
- Manage supplier contracts and ensure timely renewals and compliance
- Reduce supply chain risk by identifying and qualifying alternate sources
- Support the rollout of procurement tools and process improvements
- Leverage data and usage trends to drive optimal purchasing timing and inventory strategies
- Communicate sourcing decisions and implications across relevant departments
- Partner with R&D, Quality Assurance, and Operations to support innovation and alignment
- Perform other duties as needed to support business objectives
Required Qualifications
- 5–7 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or contract management
- Minimum of 3 years in raw materials, agricultural commodities, or specialty food ingredients
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or a related field
- Bilingual in Spanish is preferred
Skills & Competencies
- Strong knowledge of contract negotiation, including pricing, technical, and food safety terms
- Demonstrated success leading competitive bid processes (RFx)
- Deep understanding of commodity markets and supplier cost structures
- Ability to assess macroeconomic trends and currency impacts on procurement strategy
- Proficiency in strategic sourcing tools, analytics, and modeling techniques
- Advanced Excel skills and fluency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Self-starter with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Professional certifications such as CPM, CPSM, or PMP are a plus
Why Join Us?
This is more than a procurement role - it’s a chance to drive meaningful impact in a growing organization. You’ll have the autonomy to shape sourcing strategies, the support of executive leadership, and the opportunity to collaborate across departments to build a resilient, cost-effective, and innovative supply chain.
