Conexus Food Solutions
Procurement Strategy & Market Insights Manager – Food Division
Conexus Food Solutions, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Procurement Strategy & Market Insights Manager – Food Division
Location:
Chicago, IL (Site Address: 6500 W. 51st Street, Chicago, IL 60638) Salary Range:
80K - 120K (Based on Experience) Conexus Food Solutions is a leader in the Asian food service industry, bringing a diverse range of ethnic cuisines to the table. Our corporate headquarters in Chicago houses our fully integrated food processing, manufacturing, logistics, and worldwide supply chain services. With distribution centers spanning the US, over 2 million square feet of warehousing space, and a fleet of more than 1,000 trucks, we are dedicated to reliable delivery services. We value teamwork, integrity, and collaboration. We are looking for individuals who share these values and are committed to excellence. This role contributes to our culture of collaboration and integrity while growing your skills and expertise. Position Summary The Procurement Strategy & Market Insights Manager – Food Division plays a pivotal role within the Strategic Sourcing organization, overseeing procurement strategy, market analytics, and supplier performance across key food categories. This role combines analytical depth with sourcing expertise to ensure supply continuity, cost efficiency, and competitive advantage in a volatile commodities environment. The ideal candidate is data-driven and market-savvy, with a trading mentality that balances proactive risk management with opportunistic purchasing. This leader will interpret global and domestic market signals to drive sourcing decisions, strengthen supplier partnerships, and deliver sustainable value to the business. Key Responsibilities Procurement Strategy & Market Intelligence: Develop and lead category and procurement strategies across multiple food divisions (including proteins, produce, and dry goods) to meet cost, quality, and supply objectives. Continuously monitor and analyze commodity markets, pricing indices, and supply chain trends to provide actionable insights that guide sourcing decisions. Translate market data into strategic recommendations for leadership, identifying opportunities for forward buys, risk hedging, and cost optimization. Maintain a deep understanding of seasonal trends, global trade conditions, and supply/demand shifts impacting food procurement. Supplier Relationship & Performance Management: Oversee the full sourcing lifecycle—from supplier identification and qualification through contract negotiation and ongoing performance management. Build and sustain strong partnerships with growers, processors, distributors, and manufacturers to ensure consistent quality and reliability. Lead negotiations that balance cost efficiency with sustainability, quality, and ethical sourcing commitments. Develop and monitor supplier performance metrics (KPIs) to drive continuous improvement in service, quality, and innovation. Cost Optimization & Risk Mitigation: Identify and implement cost-reduction initiatives while safeguarding product integrity and supply continuity. Anticipate and mitigate supply risks driven by market volatility, weather events, or geopolitical conditions through proactive strategy and contingency planning. Manage category spend forecasting, providing leadership with accurate reporting on cost performance, savings, and exposure. Apply a trading mindset to identify and capitalize on market opportunities for strategic procurement timing. Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with Quality Assurance, Operations, Finance, and R&D to align sourcing strategies with business and product needs. Support innovation and new product development by sourcing new ingredients and evaluating emerging suppliers. Communicate market and procurement insights to senior leadership, supporting strategic planning and financial forecasting. Ensure compliance with all food safety and sustainability standards (e.g., USDA, FDA, and company-specific sourcing policies). Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Agriculture, Food Science, or related field; MBA preferred. Minimum of 7 years of procurement, sourcing, or category management experience within the food industry. Strong expertise in commodity analysis, food sourcing, and supplier negotiations. Demonstrated success in developing and executing sourcing strategies that deliver measurable cost savings and risk mitigation. Proven ability to analyze and interpret complex market data and financial trends to inform decision-making. Experience with commodity trading principles, futures markets, or hedging strategies is highly valued. Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills across all organizational levels. High proficiency in procurement analytics tools, Excel, and ERP systems. Strong leadership and project management skills, capable of driving cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced environment. Benefits Medical Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Pet Insurance Life Insurance 401(k) Plan 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match Sponsorship for Employment Conexus Food Solutions does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B). Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Seniority level Mid-Senior level Employment type Full-time Note: This refined description focuses on the essential role, responsibilities, qualifications, and benefits. Irrelevant boilerplate and duplicate listings have been removed to improve clarity and formatting.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Location:
Chicago, IL (Site Address: 6500 W. 51st Street, Chicago, IL 60638) Salary Range:
80K - 120K (Based on Experience) Conexus Food Solutions is a leader in the Asian food service industry, bringing a diverse range of ethnic cuisines to the table. Our corporate headquarters in Chicago houses our fully integrated food processing, manufacturing, logistics, and worldwide supply chain services. With distribution centers spanning the US, over 2 million square feet of warehousing space, and a fleet of more than 1,000 trucks, we are dedicated to reliable delivery services. We value teamwork, integrity, and collaboration. We are looking for individuals who share these values and are committed to excellence. This role contributes to our culture of collaboration and integrity while growing your skills and expertise. Position Summary The Procurement Strategy & Market Insights Manager – Food Division plays a pivotal role within the Strategic Sourcing organization, overseeing procurement strategy, market analytics, and supplier performance across key food categories. This role combines analytical depth with sourcing expertise to ensure supply continuity, cost efficiency, and competitive advantage in a volatile commodities environment. The ideal candidate is data-driven and market-savvy, with a trading mentality that balances proactive risk management with opportunistic purchasing. This leader will interpret global and domestic market signals to drive sourcing decisions, strengthen supplier partnerships, and deliver sustainable value to the business. Key Responsibilities Procurement Strategy & Market Intelligence: Develop and lead category and procurement strategies across multiple food divisions (including proteins, produce, and dry goods) to meet cost, quality, and supply objectives. Continuously monitor and analyze commodity markets, pricing indices, and supply chain trends to provide actionable insights that guide sourcing decisions. Translate market data into strategic recommendations for leadership, identifying opportunities for forward buys, risk hedging, and cost optimization. Maintain a deep understanding of seasonal trends, global trade conditions, and supply/demand shifts impacting food procurement. Supplier Relationship & Performance Management: Oversee the full sourcing lifecycle—from supplier identification and qualification through contract negotiation and ongoing performance management. Build and sustain strong partnerships with growers, processors, distributors, and manufacturers to ensure consistent quality and reliability. Lead negotiations that balance cost efficiency with sustainability, quality, and ethical sourcing commitments. Develop and monitor supplier performance metrics (KPIs) to drive continuous improvement in service, quality, and innovation. Cost Optimization & Risk Mitigation: Identify and implement cost-reduction initiatives while safeguarding product integrity and supply continuity. Anticipate and mitigate supply risks driven by market volatility, weather events, or geopolitical conditions through proactive strategy and contingency planning. Manage category spend forecasting, providing leadership with accurate reporting on cost performance, savings, and exposure. Apply a trading mindset to identify and capitalize on market opportunities for strategic procurement timing. Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with Quality Assurance, Operations, Finance, and R&D to align sourcing strategies with business and product needs. Support innovation and new product development by sourcing new ingredients and evaluating emerging suppliers. Communicate market and procurement insights to senior leadership, supporting strategic planning and financial forecasting. Ensure compliance with all food safety and sustainability standards (e.g., USDA, FDA, and company-specific sourcing policies). Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Agriculture, Food Science, or related field; MBA preferred. Minimum of 7 years of procurement, sourcing, or category management experience within the food industry. Strong expertise in commodity analysis, food sourcing, and supplier negotiations. Demonstrated success in developing and executing sourcing strategies that deliver measurable cost savings and risk mitigation. Proven ability to analyze and interpret complex market data and financial trends to inform decision-making. Experience with commodity trading principles, futures markets, or hedging strategies is highly valued. Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills across all organizational levels. High proficiency in procurement analytics tools, Excel, and ERP systems. Strong leadership and project management skills, capable of driving cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced environment. Benefits Medical Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Pet Insurance Life Insurance 401(k) Plan 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match Sponsorship for Employment Conexus Food Solutions does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B). Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Seniority level Mid-Senior level Employment type Full-time Note: This refined description focuses on the essential role, responsibilities, qualifications, and benefits. Irrelevant boilerplate and duplicate listings have been removed to improve clarity and formatting.
#J-18808-Ljbffr