Procurement Manager

About Chefman

Chefman is one of North America's leading brands of small kitchen appliances, committed to building best-in-class products that make cooking accessible and enjoyable for everyone. From air fryers to electric kettles, our products are designed with the consumer in mind, combining performance, reliability, and innovation in every kitchen. We don't just build appliances; we build trust with every product we put in a customer's home.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly driven Procurement Manager to lead supplier negotiations, optimize vendor relationships, and drive meaningful cost savings across the organization. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and analytically minded, with the ability to use data and strong negotiation skills to identify efficiencies and deliver measurable year-over-year cost savings through strategic sourcing and supplier optimization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies to optimize supply, improve quality, and maximize value across logistics, freight, packaging, and distribution.
• Lead supplier negotiations and manage commercial agreements to secure competitive pricing and favorable contract terms.
• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships while continuously identifying opportunities for cost optimization and operational improvements.
• Manage procurement for long-term freight and shipping arrangements including small parcel carriers, trucking providers, and ocean freight.
• Own and execute sourcing strategies for capital expenditures (CapEx) across warehousing facilities, including automation equipment, utilities, engineering services, forklifts, warehouse vehicles, and other site investments.
• Lead supplier onboarding processes including supplier audits, capability assessments, and production trials.
• Anticipate and manage sourcing barriers and supply challenges while proactively managing spend and identifying savings opportunities.
• Develop negotiation strategies, scopes of work, and executive summaries for key procurement initiatives.
• Negotiate renewals of software and service agreements to ensure competitive pricing and reduce vendor fragmentation.
• Attend domestic and international trade shows to identify emerging suppliers, materials, technologies, and operational capabilities.
• Identify and implement innovative approaches to reduce costs, improve quality, and enhance overall value across procurement activities.

 Component Sourcing

• Lead end-to-end component sourcing for electrical, mechanical, and electronic parts used in kitchen appliance manufacturing from initial specification through supplier qualification and production readiness.
• Partner with product development and engineering teams to identify component requirements early in the design cycle, ensuring sourcing strategies align with cost targets, quality standards, and launch timelines.
• Evaluate and qualify component suppliers through technical assessments, factory audits, and production trials, maintaining an approved vendor list and driving continuous supplier performance improvement.
• Monitor component supply markets, track commodity pricing trends, and proactively manage supply risk through dual sourcing, safety stock strategies, and alternate vendor development.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier contracts and commercial agreements.
• Strong knowledge of procurement, logistics, and inventory management.
• Experience leading supplier onboarding processes including audits, capability assessments, and production trials.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes related to electrical appliances or consumer products.
• Advanced Excel skills with strong cost modeling and financial analysis capabilities.
• Strong understanding of P&L impact and year-over-year cost savings metrics.
• Excellent negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Highly organized with a strong attention to detail and the ability to drive initiatives independently.

Preferred

• Hands-on experience sourcing electrical, mechanical, or electronic components within consumer products, kitchen appliances, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Experience working directly with Asia-based component suppliers and manufacturers, particularly in China.
• Familiarity with commodity markets relevant to appliance manufacturing (motors, heating elements, PCBs, plastics, metals).
• Experience attending trade shows such as the Canton Fair or Hong Kong Electronics Fair to identify and qualify new suppliers.