About the Opportunity

The Packaging Program Manager position is responsible for supporting implementation of the new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform with focus in Packaging Sourcing/Supplier Management. This individual will be responsible for sourcing key commodities, such as thermoform plastics, corrugate materials, labels, pallets, strategic purchase of raw materials for risk mitigation, and all related services to move materials to the desired destination. This position will drive value through sourcing and supplier management activities across Driscoll’s of the Americas (DOTA). This position will work cross functionally with other groups both internal and external to Supply Chain to execute agreed upon strategies and ensure ERP business requirements are defined, mapped and met through implementation. This position requires strong analytical skills, supplier management expertise, excellent verbal and written communication skills and proven technical abilities.

Responsibilities

• Interprets internal or external business issues and recommends best
• practices associated with the ERP platform
• Collaborate cross functionally to ensure business requirements and system capabilities are met
• Build out, obtain buy-in, and lead ERP change management plans
• Benchmark packaging industry best practices, capacities with suppliers, business awards, contractual awards analysis to ensure suppliers are aligned within acceptable range
• Solves complex problems takes a broad perspective to identify innovative solutions and develops new concepts, methods and techniques
• Oversee RFx development, communication, analysis and supplier business awards for US, Mexico and Canada direct material needs
• Interpret internal/external business challenges and recommend best practices to improve products, processes or services
• Collaborate with suppliers to build out long range capacity planning that will meet business growth needs by region
• Develop regional support strategies that include proper redundancy for assurance of supply
• Maintain a sourcing strategy that will ensure regional tooling requirements and cost optimization targets are met
• Negotiate and manage supply contracts with a portfolio of suppliers across multiple commodities, regions and countries
• Execute strategic material purchases to protect current and future business needs
• Conduct business continuity risk assessments for all direct material commodities across regions supported
• Implement strategies and/or make corrective actions to mitigate identified risks
• Work cross functionally on material strategy development and management
• Leverage DOTA spend to achieve economies of scale for direct materials and related services
• Identify Strategic Sourcing opportunities within other Driscoll’s functional groups
• Identify, obtain buy-in, and lead strategic sourcing initiatives for new opportunities within Supply Chain
• Manage and launch RFPs for Direct Materials
• Executes purchasing strategies to reduce the company’s overall risk exposure
• Manages multi-year contracts and Service Level Agreements with 3rd party suppliers to ensure contractual obligations meet operational needs and are adhered to by suppliers
• Evaluation, negotiation and documentation of contracts related to Strategic Sourcing activities
• Responsible for managing activities in collaboration with multiple functional groups to accomplish planned growth.
• Lead development of opportunity analysis to identify value creation opportunities
• Lead the process of transitioning new products, executed deals, and new suppliers to the business
• Contributes to the Business Unit’s priorities and objectives regarding effective leadership, engaged employees and enablement
• Domestic and international travel required up to 20%.
• Represents Driscoll’s in an ethical and business-like professional manner in all interactions with growers, co-workers, suppliers, customers and the business community at large.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor’s degree required in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Management, Operations Research, or related fields

• MBA is a plus

• Prior experience in sourcing and supply chain (7-10 years in this discipline)

• Proven negotiation and networking skills

• Strong RFQ/RFP execution skills

• Strong familiarity with MRP/ERB applications

Preferred Qualifications & Leadership Competencies

• Excellent working knowledge of ERP systems (Oracle is preferred)

  ERP/Enterprise Business Application (EBA) implementation experience

• Excellent communication skills (written & verbal)

  Prior experience working with 3rd party category sourcing experts and ability to fully extract and leverage the value these resources provide

• Strong leadership and decision-making ability

• Strong organizational skills and project management skills in order to coordinate and drive projects to successful completion

• Strong analytical skills with attention to financial details

  Demonstrated ability to perform optimization analysis and business case development

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment showing initiative to collaborate cross-functionally

• Self-starter with strong portfolio management skills

  Ability to influence others to ensure tasks meet goals and objectives

• Demonstrated ability to perform process improvement using 6-sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies

  California driver’s license and the ability to be covered under company-sponsored vehicle insurance program

• A valid passport and the ability to travel internationally without restrictions

• Strategic Mindset: Looks toward the future and designs a way to get there

• Cultivates Innovation: Finds, champions, and implements innovations; large or small

• Plans & Aligns: Establishes priorities and desired outcome and creates plans to achieve them

• Drives Results: Pursues everything with energy, resourcefulness, and the need to achieve desired outcomes

• Collaborates: Works with a variety of colleagues, inside and/or outside of Driscoll’s, seeking win-wins solutions

• Drives Engagement: Creates a motivating work environment and empowers others

• Develops Talent: Actively seeks opportunities to develop one’s self and others

• Courage: Tackles difficult issues timely with optimism and transparency

Compensation & Benefits:

The following information is provided in good faith as a general description of the salary range and benefits for the position posted.  The actual compensation offered to the successful candidate is dependent upon experience, skills, education, work location, internal pay equity, and other objective job-related factors.

Starting Salary Range estimated for Packaging Program Manager: $77,100 to $108,000 USD.

Driscoll’s is committed to a culture of care and offers an attractive benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and disability coverage for positions working more than 30 hours per week. Other benefits include:  401(k) with employer match, profit-sharing participation, paid sick time, paid vacation, paid personal and family care leave, and a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  More detailed information regarding the benefits package, will be shared during the application process.

About Driscolls

Driscoll's is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll's is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion and trustworthiness have guided our mission to delight consumers around the world.

Driscoll's exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods – meaning, no GMOs. From farm-to-table, we focus on delivering a high quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners.

Driscoll's is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries™.

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Driscoll's es el proveedor líder en la comercialización de Fresas, Frambuesas, Zarzamoras y Arándanos Azules en el mundo. Con más de 100 años de herencia en agricultura y cientos de productores independiente alrededor del mundo, Driscoll's es una compañía apasionada por cultivar Berries frescas, hermosas y deliciosas. Nuestros valores de humildad, pasión y confianza han guiado nuestra misión de deleitar a los consumidores en el mundo.

Las variedades exclusivas de Driscoll's han sido desarrolladas a través de años de investigación usando sólo métodos de mejoramiento natural. De la granja a la mesa, nos enfocamos en ofrecer una experiencia de alta calidad con apoyo de nuestros socios de la cadena de suministro.

Driscoll's es la marca de confianza de sólo las mejores Berries.