Heartland Food Products Group is a global leader in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry, producing low-calorie sweeteners, coffee, coffee creamers and liquid water enhancers. We manufacture and market Splenda, the #1 brand in the low-calorie sweetener category and the most recognized in the world.
We make coffee, tea and water taste better and help people live happier, healthier and longer lives by making it easy to reduce sugar.
We offer an excellent compensation and benefits package. Come grow with us! This role is 100% onsite, at the manufacturing plant in Indianapolis, IN.
SCOPE
The Associate Strategic Sourcing Manager, Ingredients supports the development and executes day-to-day sourcing strategies across direct ingredient categories supporting Heartland Food Products Group’s portfolio.
Reporting to the Strategic Sourcing Manager, Ingredients, this role executes competitive bidding events, tactical negotiations, commodity monitoring, and spend analytics to deliver Annual Operating Plan (AOP) value targets. The Associate Manager partners cross-functionally with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, and Finance to ensure supply resilience, technical compliance, and cost-effective commercialization of new products and reformulations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Sourcing Execution & Commercial Management
- Execute defined sourcing strategies for assigned ingredient categories including but not limited to sweeteners, coffee extracts, dairy and fats, flavors, acids, and functional additives, utilizing RFIs, RFPs, and e-sourcing tools.
- Conduct tactical negotiations covering unit pricing, payment terms, minimum order quantities (MOQs), lead times, and inventory commitments to optimize total delivered cost.
- Maintain accurate supplier pricing, contracts, and commercial terms within enterprise ERP systems to support purchasing operations and prevent invoice variances.
- Serve as the primary commercial point of contact for day-to-day supplier communications, purchase-order escalations, and issue resolution.
Market Intelligence & Cost Optimization
- Track commodity cost drivers, agricultural fundamentals, energy, freight, and currency fluctuations to anticipate market movements and identify value-creation opportunities.
- Assist in developing baseline cost models, pricing forecasts, and commodity assumptions for the AOP ingredient budget.
- Track, validate, and report monthly cost-savings, cost-avoidance, and inflation/deflation metrics across assigned sourcing projects.
NPI, Specification & Change Control
- Partner with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, and Plant Operations to source approved ingredients for new product introduction and commercialization, and product reformulations, on schedule.
- Support ingredient change-control processes, managing the collection and cross-functional review of technical documentation, including Certificates of Analysis (COAs), allergen declarations, and traceability records.
- Assist in identifying and validating alternate suppliers and secondary materials to expand supplier capacity, mitigate single-source exposure, and capture cost efficiencies.
Supplier Performance & Risk Mitigation
- Generate and maintain supplier scorecards evaluating on-time in-full (OTIF) delivery, quality performance, service responsiveness, and commercial competitiveness.
- Actively participate in Supplier Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and partner with suppliers to resolve performance gaps and drive continuous improvement.
- Monitor supplier lead times, capacity utilization, and geographic vulnerabilities, escalating operational disruptions or supply risks with actionable contingency plans.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, Food Science, Engineering, or a related discipline required.
- 2 to 3 years of strategic sourcing, direct procurement, or supply chain experience, ideally within a food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience supporting competitive bidding events, commercial contract administration, spend analytics, and supplier relationship management.
Knowledge & Technical Skills
- Foundational understanding of ingredient markets, commodity structures, food-grade manufacturing processes, and supplier cost breakdown models.
- Familiarity with food-industry quality systems, ingredient specifications, allergen programs, and supplier-change notification protocols.
- Strong analytical capability with proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced lookups, pivot tables, and data modeling); familiarity with enterprise ERP and spend-management systems.
ATTRIBUTES OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES
- Emerging Commercial Negotiator: Combines data-driven preparation with professional assertiveness to influence supplier outcomes and internal alignment.
- Analytical Problem Solver: Quickly synthesizes spend data, supplier proposals, and commodity trends into actionable sourcing recommendations.
- Cross-Functional Collaborator: Operates seamlessly between technical disciplines (R&D, Food Safety, Quality) and commercial/operational teams.
- Agile & Detail-Oriented: Manages multiple product deadlines, formula revisions, and changing supply realities with high accuracy and composure.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Prolonged periods of sitting and standing while utilizing computers, phones, and digital communication tools.
- Visual acuity sufficient to review detailed ingredient specifications, technical data sheets, supplier agreements, and complex spreadsheets.
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 40 lbs. when handling supplier ingredient samples or pilot-trial materials.
- Flexibility to work extended hours as required during critical sourcing events, supply escalations, or major product launch deadlines.