Procurement Category Manager

About Ingredion

Ingredion harnesses natural ingredients to transform everyday products such as chocolate, pet food, paper, and snacks. With a global presence across more than 60 industries, we seek a procurement leader to shape the future of Kerr by Ingredion’s agricultural supply.

Salem, OR – On site. Relocation within the country is available.

This role is a Procurement Category Manager responsible for end-to-end category management of assigned agricultural raw material and ingredient categories supporting Kerr by Ingredion. The position owns category strategy development, sourcing execution, supplier relationship management, cost and risk optimization, and value delivery, aligned with Ingredion’s Global Procurement framework.

• Own and execute category strategies based on Ingredion’s Global Procurement Strategic Handbook, including 2‑to‑3‑year outlooks and sourcing roadmaps.
• Lead strategic sourcing and commercial activities for fruit and vegetable raw material categories, including bid events, negotiations, contracting, and award recommendations.
• Drive value‑creation initiatives focused on cost optimization, supply continuity, risk mitigation, and sustainability improvement.
• Serve as the primary relationship owner for strategic suppliers, building long‑term partnerships and leading performance reviews across quality, service, cost, compliance, and risk.
• Proactively manage supply risk, quality, and sustainability with cross‑functional teams to ensure compliance, audit readiness, and supplier qualification.
• Translate cross‑functional business needs into sourcing strategies that support operations, planning, and customer commitments.
• Track, govern, and report category performance, including savings, cost avoidance, risk mitigation, service improvements, and continuous improvement of procurement processes and tools.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply management, agricultural science, or a related technical discipline.
• Proven track record in sourcing, procurement, category management, or agricultural supply chain roles.
• Experience working with agricultural commodities, growers, or food and ingredient supply chains.
• Working knowledge of SAP or similar ERP systems to support procurement execution.
• Willingness and ability to travel for supplier, grower, and field visits; experience in sustainability or responsible‑sourcing initiatives is preferred.

• Strategic and commercial acumen with a category ownership mindset.
• Strong supplier relationship and performance‑management skills, including influence and accountability.
• Data‑driven problem‑solving capability, using quantitative and qualitative insights.
• Effective cross‑functional collaboration and influence, partnering with Operations, Quality, Finance, and Commercial teams.
• Clear and persuasive communication skills, interpreting complex business, technical, and regulatory information while engaging credibly with suppliers and stakeholders.

• Competitive salary and performance‑based pay.
• Comprehensive benefits and wellness support (health, dental, vision, long‑term savings).
• Career growth opportunities, including learning, training, and tuition reimbursement.
• Employee recognition program and discount program on products, services, and travel.
• 401(k) plan with a competitive company match.

Pay range: $ – $ annual. Additional incentive compensation may be available through the Ingredion Annual Incentive Plan or a role‑specific commission/bonus.

Ingredion is an equal‑opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to providing an environment free from harassment and discrimination. All decisions are made fairly and in compliance with applicable laws.