Senior Manager, Specialty Raw Materials
Thorne · Remote, South Carolina · remote
At Thorne, we work to deliver high-quality, science-backed solutions to empower individuals to take a proactive approach to their well-being. Each day begins with a mission to help others discover and achieve their best health. We count on our team members to challenge and push the boundaries to make that happen. At Thorne, you’ll be joining a team of more than 750 passionate individuals committed to our cause of providing superior health solutions at every age and life stage.
The Senior Manager, Specialty Raw Materials is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for Thorne’s specialty raw material portfolio, ensuring reliable supply, strong supplier performance, competitive cost, and alignment with Thorne’s quality and customer expectations.
This role manages strategic supplier relationships and sourcing activities across assigned raw material categories, including supplier evaluation and selection, commercial negotiations, purchasing, supplier performance, cost-reduction initiatives, supply continuity, and issue resolution. The Senior Manager works closely with suppliers and internal partners to ensure materials meet purchase order specifications and support the needs of Thorne’s manufacturing operations.
Working within a cGMP-regulated environment, this role monitors supplier performance across delivery, quality, cost, and responsiveness and may partner with Quality Assurance to support supplier procurement audits. The Senior Manager also stays current on supplier capabilities, market trends, technologies, products, and services to identify opportunities that strengthen Thorne’s raw material sourcing strategy.
The ideal candidate is an experienced procurement and strategic sourcing professional with strong expertise in raw materials, supplier management, negotiation, and cost optimization. This individual combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution and is comfortable independently managing supplier relationships, resolving supply challenges, analyzing sourcing opportunities, and driving initiatives from strategy through implementation.
Strategic Sourcing & Procurement- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for Thorne’s specialty raw material categories, identifying strategic partnerships that align with business needs, quality requirements, and customer expectations.
- Manage sourcing and procurement activities for assigned raw material categories from supplier evaluation through purchasing and ongoing supplier management.
- Evaluate supplier capabilities, quotes, pricing, services, lead times, and other commercial considerations to support sourcing decisions.
- Prepare and process purchase orders in accordance with established procurement processes and material requirements.
- Identify and execute opportunities to improve sourcing effectiveness, supply reliability, and overall value.
- Drive cost-reduction initiatives while balancing quality, service, supply continuity, and business requirements.
- Maintain knowledge of raw material markets, supplier capabilities, emerging technologies, products, services, and relevant industry trends.
- Support purchasing and sourcing decisions through thoughtful analysis of supplier, cost, performance, and business information.
Supplier Relationship & Performance Management- Serve as a primary relationship owner for suppliers within assigned specialty raw material categories.
- Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with strategic suppliers.
- Monitor and evaluate supplier performance across delivery, quality, cost, and responsiveness.
- Use supplier performance information to identify trends, risks, performance gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
- Partner with suppliers to address performance concerns and drive appropriate corrective actions.
- Maintain regular communication with suppliers regarding material requirements, availability, delivery, performance, and business needs.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen supplier relationships and develop strategic partnerships that support Thorne’s long-term sourcing objectives.
- Partner with Quality Assurance to participate in procurement-related supplier audits as needed.
Supply Continuity & Issue Resolution- Proactively identify potential raw material supply risks and work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to minimize disruption to manufacturing operations.
- Expedite material shipments when required to support production and business needs.
- Resolve issues arising from the purchase of raw materials, goods, services, supplies, or equipment with internal and external stakeholders.
- Coordinate the return-to-vendor (RTV) process and prepare required documentation for materials being returned to suppliers.
- Evaluate supplier and material issues and drive them through to appropriate resolution with minimal oversight.
- Communicate material availability, supplier performance, supply risks, and other sourcing concerns to appropriate stakeholders.
- Escalate significant supplier, quality, cost, delivery, or supply-continuity risks promptly and recommend appropriate solutions.
- Balance immediate production needs with longer-term sourcing and supplier strategies.
Cross-Functional Partnership & Compliance- Partner cross-functionally with Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Planning, Finance, R&D, and other teams to support raw material requirements and sourcing objectives.
- Ensure sourcing and purchasing activities support efficient manufacturing operations and established quality expectations.
- Operate in accordance with applicable current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and established procurement procedures.
- Partner with Quality Assurance on supplier-related quality matters and procurement audits as required.
- Communicate sourcing recommendations, supplier performance, risks, opportunities, and decisions clearly to internal stakeholders.
- Review, analyze, and interpret procurement, supplier, material, and business reports to support effective decision-making.
- Maintain accurate and appropriate sourcing, supplier, and purchasing documentation.
- Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes, supplier performance, cost effectiveness, and cross-functional ways of working.
Strategic Leadership & Continuous Improvement- Translate business and customer requirements into actionable specialty raw material sourcing strategies.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen Thorne’s supplier network and develop strategic supplier partnerships.
- Lead sourcing and procurement initiatives from identification through successful implementation with limited direction and oversight.
- Apply strong analytical and decision-making skills to evaluate sourcing alternatives, supplier performance, costs, and business risks.
- Build alignment across internal stakeholders and external suppliers to achieve sourcing and business objectives.
- Support cross-functional initiatives requiring specialty raw material and procurement expertise.
- Promote continuous improvement across sourcing strategies, supplier relationships, procurement processes, and cost management.
- Maintain accountability for assigned objectives, timelines, and sourcing outcomes.
Education & Experience- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 4–8 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, purchasing, or a related discipline.
- Experience within a manufacturing or consumer packaged goods (CPG) environment preferred.
- Strong experience sourcing and managing raw material categories within the dietary supplement industry preferred.
- Demonstrated experience managing supplier relationships and supplier performance.
- Experience evaluating supplier quotes, commercial considerations, and sourcing alternatives.
- Experience supporting cost-reduction or cost-optimization initiatives.
- Procurement experience within a Material Requirements Planning (MRP) environment.
- APICS, ISM, or related procurement/supply chain certification preferred.
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