Senior Purchasing Manager, Outside Contract Manufacturing (OCM)

Description

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the end-to-end procurement process for finished goods and materials sourced from Outside Contract Manufacturers.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that support business growth, supply continuity, product quality, capacity requirements, and cost objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and select suppliers and contract manufacturing partners based on quality, cost, capacity, lead time, service, technical capability, and operational risk.
• Evaluate supplier quotations and service proposals and negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, capacity commitments, and other commercial terms.
• Negotiate and support the execution of supplier agreements, statements of work, pricing agreements, and other purchasing documentation.
• Issue and manage purchase orders in accordance with approved demand plans, production schedules, contractual requirements, and inventory targets.
• Ensure Thorne-supplied materials required by contract manufacturers are purchased, delivered, and available in alignment with production needs.
• Identify cost-reduction, cost-avoidance, and value-improvement opportunities without compromising quality, service, or supply continuity.

• Build and maintain productive relationships with contract manufacturers and key suppliers to support performance, capacity, quality, innovation, and long-term partnership objectives.
• Monitor and evaluate supplier performance using established metrics, including on-time delivery, quality, cost, responsiveness, service, and corrective-action effectiveness.
• Lead regular supplier performance reviews and partner with suppliers to address performance gaps, capacity constraints, quality concerns, and delivery risks.
• Stay informed of supplier capabilities, market conditions, emerging technologies, product developments, industry trends, and changes that may affect supply or cost.
• Partner with Quality to support supplier qualification, procurement audits, corrective actions, and ongoing supplier compliance activities.
• Escalate significant supplier risks and develop mitigation plans, alternate sourcing strategies, or recovery actions as needed.
• Maintain awareness of contract manufacturer capacity and proactively address potential supply constraints.

• Partner with Research and Development, Innovation, Quality, Planning, and Operations teams to support sourcing activities for new products, reformulations, and product changes.
• Identify and evaluate potential contract manufacturers and suppliers for new initiatives based on technical capability, cost, quality, lead time, capacity, and scalability.
• Support supplier onboarding, quote analysis, feasibility reviews, commercialization planning, and launch-readiness activities.
• Coordinate purchasing requirements and supplier commitments to support project timelines and product-launch objectives.

• Work closely with Planning and the Outside Contract Manufacturing Manager to monitor production schedules, material availability, and supplier on-time delivery.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support customer demand and production schedules while minimizing excess, obsolete, or slow-moving inventory.
• Review purchasing, inventory, supplier, and demand reports to identify risks, trends, and required actions.
• Resolve purchasing issues involving goods, services, materials, invoices, delivery, quality, pricing, or specifications in partnership with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Ensure purchasing data, supplier information, pricing, lead times, and purchase-order records are accurate and current within the Enterprise Resource Planning system.
• Communicate supply risks, supplier issues, cost impacts, and recommended solutions clearly to business leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Provide guidance, training, and support to less-experienced purchasing team members.
• Explain procurement processes, requirements, and business considerations to cross-functional partners.
• Identify and implement improvements to sourcing, purchasing, supplier management, reporting, and procurement workflows.
• Establish clear expectations, priorities, and performance objectives for assigned team members, where applicable.
• Support a collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented culture focused on quality, service, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Perform other procurement and supply-chain responsibilities as assigned.

WHAT YOU NEED

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business, Operations, Finance, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Six or more years of progressive experience in procurement, purchasing, sourcing, supply chain, contract manufacturing, or a related field.
• Experience managing suppliers or contract manufacturers in a manufacturing environment required.
• Experience working within a Material Requirements Planning or Enterprise Resource Planning environment required.
• Experience in dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, medical devices, or another regulated manufacturing industry preferred.
• Experience negotiating commercial terms, supplier agreements, pricing, lead times, and capacity commitments.
• Previous experience leading, mentoring, or training purchasing professionals preferred.

• Strong understanding of procurement fundamentals, strategic sourcing, supplier management, purchase-order administration, inventory planning, and contract manufacturing.
• Knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practices, supplier quality requirements, and procurement controls within a regulated environment.
• Ability to evaluate supplier quotations, cost models, lead times, payment terms, service levels, and total cost of ownership.
• Proficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning and Material Requirements Planning systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to interpret purchasing, inventory, supplier-performance, financial, production, and demand-planning reports.
• Familiarity with supplier scorecards, performance metrics, risk assessments, corrective actions, and audit processes.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with the ability to evaluate pricing, usage, inventory, forecasts, and cost variances.

• Strong negotiation, supplier-management, and relationship-building skills.
• Sound judgment with the ability to balance cost, quality, service, risk, and supply continuity.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to translate data into practical recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, supplier relationships, deadlines, and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with suppliers, senior leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to identify risks, raise concerns promptly, and develop pragmatic solutions.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accurate purchasing records and reliable execution.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of assigned objectives, and deliver results with limited oversight.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build alignment and influence without relying solely on authority.
• Ability to coach, train, and support the development of less-experienced purchasing professionals.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, customer service, and operational excellence.

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while performing computer-based and administrative work.
• Ability to move throughout office, manufacturing, warehouse, laboratory, and supplier environments as needed.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, business partners, and suppliers in person, by telephone, and through virtual meeting platforms.
• Ability to review printed and electronic documentation, reports, contracts, purchase orders, and detailed records.
• Ability to work in office and manufacturing environments with moderate noise levels.
• Ability to work scheduled shifts and additional hours as business needs require.
• Ability to travel approximately 10%–15% to supplier, contract manufacturer, or company locations.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive compensation
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability insurance
• Company- paid life insurance
• 401k plan with employer matching contributions up to 4%
• Gym membership reimbursement
• Monthly allowance of Thorne supplements
• Paid time off, volunteer time off and holiday leave
• Training, professional development, and career growth opportunities