Category Manager of Chemicals

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 sourcing excellence and supplier performance within Perdue's Procurement organization. As a Category Manager of Chemicals, you will execute category strategies, manage supplier relationships, and support sourcing initiatives that drive cost optimization and business results. Partnering closely with cross-functional teams, you will help ensure procurement strategies align with operational needs while contributing to continuous improvement, supplier performance, and overall procurement effectiveness. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented procurement professional who enjoys building relationships, solving business challenges, and delivering value in a collaborative 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 $89,000 - $133,000 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

• Support development and execution of category strategies and savings plans.

• Conduct spend analysis, market research, and supplier benchmarking.

• Track supplier performance using defined KPIs and escalate issues as needed.

• Lead sourcing events (RFPs, negotiations) and supplier evaluations.

• Apply negotiation strategies to secure favorable terms and outcomes.

• Ensure smooth contract handoff and alignment with operational teams.

• Collaborate with Procurement Center of Excellence to apply standardized sourcing tools.

• Assist in managing contract terms, renewals, and compliance checkpoints.

• Serve as the day-to-day liaison for suppliers in the category.

• Monitor performance metrics and support corrective actions when needed.

• Identify and escalate supplier risks to senior leadership.

• Ensure adherence to procurement policies and workflows.

• Coordinate with purchasing teams on urgent or non-standard spend.

• Recommend process improvements and contribute to best practice adoption.

• Share insights and support peer development.

• Actively participate in knowledge sharing across the procurement function.

• Execute sourcing events and apply basic negotiation strategies.

• Handle day-to-day supplier interactions and performance tracking.

• Conduct spend reviews and market research to support decisions.

• Understand commercial terms and compliance basics.

• Work with operations, finance, and legal teams.

• Follow workflows and identify improvement opportunities.

• Share updates clearly with stakeholders and suppliers.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or related field.

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

• Experience with supplier negotiations, RFx events, and contract execution.

• Strong collaboration skills with operations, finance, and legal teams.

• Proficiency in ERP and sourcing tools (e.g., SAP Ariba).

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.

• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.

• May need to access files, supplies and equipment.

• Work activity is in an office, open-partitioned, cubicle environment.

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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.