Procurement Strategy & Market Insights Manager – Food Division

Site Address : 6500 W. 51st Street, Chicago, IL 60638
Salary Range: 80K - 120K (Based on Experience)

Who We Are  
Conexus Food Solutions is a leader in the Asian food service industry, bringing a diverse range of ethnic cuisines, such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai, to the table. Our corporate headquarters in Chicago is where we house our fully integrated food processing, manufacturing, logistics, and worldwide supply chain services all under one roof. With distribution centers spanning the US, over 2 million square feet of warehousing space, and a fleet of more than 1,000 trucks, we're the go-to when it comes to reliable delivery services.  

At Conexus Food Solutions, we believe that teamwork and collaboration are the keys to success. We pride ourselves on maintaining the highest standards of integrity and honesty in everything we do and building strong relationships with our clients. We're looking for individuals who share our values and are committed to excellence. Join our team and contribute to our culture of collaboration and integrity while growing your own skills and expertise. Together, we'll deliver high-quality products and exceptional service to our clients and achieve great things. 
 

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 both data-driven and market-savvy, possessing 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 cross-functional teams including 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 Man