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Job Title: Procurement Manager

Location: Springfield, MO (possibly open to remote)
Reports to: TBD
Department: Procurement
Employment Type: Full-Time

Job Summary:

LinkOne is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Procurement Manager to lead the sourcing and procurement of agricultural ingredients and co-products for use in our human and pet food businesses. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring the consistent supply of high-quality raw materials and co-products at optimal cost, while managing supplier relationships, contracts, and procurement strategies in line with business goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Sourcing:
  Develop and execute sourcing strategies for new and existing raw materials and co-products, ensuring competitive pricing, quality standards, and continuity of supply.
• Supplier Management:
  Identify, evaluate, manage and expand supplier and grower relationships and networks. Negotiate terms, build strong relationships, and monitor performance to ensure service levels, compliance, and innovation.
• Market Intelligence:
  Monitor global and regional markets, pricing trends, weather patterns, crop reports, and other external factors that may affect availability and pricing.
• Contract Negotiation:
  Draft, review, and negotiate contracts with suppliers and cooperatives to secure favorable terms and mitigate risk.
• Quality Assurance:
  Work closely with the quality and technical teams to ensure suppliers meet required food safety, traceability, and sustainability standards.
• Budgeting and Cost Control:
  Develop annual procurement budgets, track spend, identify cost-saving opportunities, and report variances.
• Logistics and Planning:
  Coordinate with sales, operations, and production planning teams to ensure timely delivery of goods and avoid supply disruptions.
• Sustainability and Compliance:
  Promote ethical sourcing, environmental stewardship, and adherence to all regulatory and food safety requirements.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Agribusiness, Supply Chain, Procurement, or related field
• Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in procurement of agricultural ingredients or co-products.
• Strong understanding of agricultural supply chains, seasonal availability, perishability, and global sourcing.
• Proven negotiation skills and experience in contract management.
• Excellent analytical, forecasting, and decision-making abilities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience working with growers, co-ops, and agricultural trading companies.

Desirable Experience:

• Previous procurement experience in food or pet food manufacturing sectors.
• Knowledge of commodity trading, futures, and hedging strategies.
• Familiarity with sustainability certifications (e.g., Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance).