Global Category Manager Colors NPD Innovation and Supplier Development - Erlanger, KY
This is an exempt level position.
Position Summary:
The Global Category Manager – Colors, New Product Development, Innovation & Supplier Development builds and advances the global supplier strategy required to support growth, risk management, innovation, and new product commercialization within the Colors business. This role serves as the procurement lead for supplier-enabled innovation, new and alternate raw material development. Reporting to the Global Procurement Color Leader, the successful candidate will work closely with R&D, Regulatory, Quality, and Commercial teams to ensure the business has access to the right suppliers, technologies, and capabilities to support new product development and long-term growth.
Job Responsibilities:-
Serve as the procurement lead for new product development initiatives related to natural colors, partnering with R&D, Commercial, Regulatory, and Quality to identify supplier solutions for innovation and customer projects
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Build a global supplier development roadmap, identifying suppliers with unique technologies, crop access, and processing capabilities that support the Colors innovation pipeline
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Own the strategic supplier relationship and onboarding process
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Map supplier capabilities across natural color sources (red radish, purple sweet potato, paprika, turmeric, beetroot, purple carrot, spirulina, carmine, and others) and identify emerging technologies and alternate raw material sources
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Develop new suppliers and second-source alternatives for new and existing color raw materials to strengthen supply resilience
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Lead supplier qualification, sourcing events, negotiations, and onboarding for new and innovative color raw materials
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Serve as the primary escalation point for supplier-related issues that could delay innovation, approval, or launch timing, driving resolution with internal teams
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Identify supply, quality, and regulatory risks associated with new and existing suppliers, and build risk mitigation plans across both innovation projects and standard-product supply
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Act as a key liaison between Procurement, R&D, Regulatory, Quality, and Commercial on innovation and supplier development priorities
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Provide clear updates to leadership on supplier development progress, risk mitigation status, and commercialization readiness
Required Skills:-
Knowledge of natural colors, specialty ingredients, or agricultural-based raw materials
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Strong understanding of new product development, supplier qualification, and commercialization processes
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Strong supplier relationship management skills
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Strong executive communication skills with the ability to present clear recommendations to leadership
Education Requirements:-
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Food Science, Agriculture, Agribusiness, Chemistry, or a related field is required. An advanced degree in Business, Supply Chain, Food Science, or Agriculture is preferred.
Required Experience:-
10+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier development, or food/natural ingredients
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Strong preference for direct experience in the natural colors or food ingredient industry, or with a color house, ingredient supplier, or processor
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Proven experience supporting new product development, supplier qualification, and commercialization
Additional information:-
Ability to travel globally, up to 30%, to meet with suppliers, processors, and technical teams. Relocation assistance is available with this position.
Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.
ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.
REF:111581BR
Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.
If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.
The pay range for this position is expected to be between:
$110,100.00 - $178,500.00
Salaried Incentive Plan
The total compensation package for this position will also include annual bonus and a long-term incentive plan
Benefits and Perks
Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:
- Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
- Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
- Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).
Additional benefits include:
- Paid time off including paid holidays.
- Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
- Tuition assistance.
- Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.
- Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.
#IncludingYou
Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM’s efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments — environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.
We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law
About ADM
At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.
