Senior Category Manager MRO

Perdue Farms is a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

Summary

Drive strategic sourcing excellence and business impact across Perdue's Procurement organization. As a Senior Category Manager, you will lead category strategy, supplier relationships, and sourcing execution while driving performance, cost savings, and continuous improvement initiatives. You will partner closely with suppliers, business leaders, and cross-functional teams to align sourcing strategies with organizational goals, strengthen procurement capabilities, and deliver long-term value. This role is ideal for a results-driven leader who excels at developing sourcing strategies, building strong partnerships, leading teams, and influencing business outcomes in a dynamic environment.

This position is located onsite at our corporate office in Salisbury, MD (relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates) or structured as a remote role that requires travel up to 25% of the time.

The salary range for this position is $128,000 - $192,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of long-term category strategies and savings plans.

• Perform advanced spend analysis, market research, and competitive benchmarking.

• Drive supplier performance improvement through KPIs and strategic reviews.

• Lead complex sourcing events (RFIs, RFPs, negotiations, and auctions).

• Develop and implement innovative sourcing solutions to meet evolving needs.

• Ensure seamless contract handoff and integration with operational teams.

• Partner with the Procurement Center of Excellence to standardize sourcing templates and tools.

• Ensure contracts meet financial, operational, and compliance standards.

• Track contract milestones, expirations, and renewal timelines.

• Act as the primary contact for strategic suppliers.

• Monitor and resolve performance issues.

• Lead supplier development efforts.

• Proactively identify and mitigate supply risks.

• Ensure adherence to procurement policies and workflows.

• Lead high-profile or complex sourcing projects.

• Champion process improvements and best practice adoption.

• Lead Category Managers and foster a high-performing team culture.

• Lead knowledge sharing and capability building across procurement.

• Support talent development and succession planning within the function.

• Lead category strategy and sourcing initiatives.

• Manage complex supplier negotiations and outcomes.

• Drive performance improvement and risk mitigation.

• Evaluate contracts for financial and operational impact.

• Champion best practices and efficiency.

• Lead and develop Category Managers and support team growth.

• Align sourcing with broader business goals.

• Leverage tools and data for strategic insights.

• Align procurement strategy with enterprise goals and long-term growth.

• Build trust and alignment with senior leadership to drive sourcing decisions and organizational impact.

Minimum Education and Experience

• 10+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or category management.

• Proven experience in supplier negotiations, RFx management, and contract execution.

• Strong cross-functional collaboration with operations, finance, and legal.

• Advanced proficiency in ERP and sourcing platforms (e.g., SAP Ariba).

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Standard office environment.

• Ability to work on-site in Salisbury or remotely as business needs require.

#LI-CS1

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.