Strategic Sourcing Partner

Role Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join us as a Strategic Sourcing Partner based in The Woodlands, Texas. The role will be responsible for the procurement of vitamins, minerals, feed and soil additives, and maintenance spare parts across Westway’s liquid feed manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada. This position will play a critical part in supporting plant operations by ensuring the timely, cost-effective and reliable sourcing of key ingredients and maintenance materials. The Strategic Sourcing Partner will collaborate closely with site operations, sales, formulations and broader procurement teams to align sourcing strategies with business goals and drive continuous improvement in supplier performance and cost management.

Business Overview

Westway Feed Products is North America’s largest manufacturer of liquid supplements for livestock. Additionally, we produce feed mill products, dried molasses and industrial products. The core concept of Westway’s business is to utilize co-products from other industries and convert them into safe, high-quality, cost effective, livestock feed supplements. While Westway’s primary ingredient for many of our products is molasses, we also incorporate other co-products. The concept of utilizing these co-products is the foundation of our sustainability platform. Today, Westway operates 22 production facilities across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our geographic reach allows for products to be developed according to environmental and production system variations across the country.

We are part of ED&F Man Commodities, a world leading trader of agricultural products including coffee, sugar, molasses and animal feed.

Responsibilities to include, but are not limited to:

• Lead the sourcing and procurement of vitamins, minerals, and feed/soil additives for multiple liquid feed plants across the U.S and Canada.
• Manage the procurement of MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) spare parts to support plant reliability and uptime.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure consistent quality, competitive pricing and reliable delivery.
• Collaborate with plant managers and engineering teams to forecast demand and align sourcing strategies for site spare part requirements.
• Cooperate with the planning, formulations, sales, production and procurement teams to source ingredients at optimal cost and on schedule to meet customer requirements.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing and terms with suppliers, to optimize total cost of ownership.
• Drive continuous improvement through supplier relationship management, sourcing strategies and supplier rebate programs.
• Monitor market trends, commodity pricing and supply chain risks, to proactively manage sourcing challenges.
• Maintain accurate supplier and pricing data in procurement systems and ensure compliance with company policies.
• Identify and implement cost-saving initiatives and process improvements across the sourcing function.
• Support new product development and reformulation efforts, by sourcing new ingredients and evaluating supplier capabilities.
• Conduct approximately 10% travel to support the Westway site teams and manage vendor relationships within the United States and Canada.
• Ensure supplier compliance with regulatory, safety, and quality standards.
• Participate in cross-functional projects and strategic sourcing initiatives to support company growth and operational excellence.

Skills and Experience

• 5 – 10 years’ experience in strategic sourcing, procurement or supply chain management, preferably in the animal feed, food manufacturing or the agricultural industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, agriculture or a related field preferred.
• Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics 365) and procurement tools.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Proven negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across departments.
• Strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Good knowledge of feed ingredients, additives, and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) categories is highly preferred.
• APICS Certified Supply Chain Specialist or Certified Planning and Inventory Management is highly desirable, or willingness to obtain certificate within two years.

HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PAY AND BENEFITS PACKAGE

We recognise that talent comes in many forms, and we value potential just as much as experience. If this role excites you but you don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.

Our Offer

We provide a fast-paced, stimulating and truly global environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We also offer competitive salary and benefits combined with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the global leaders in soft commodity trading.

Our Westway Values

Integrity, Accountability, Teamwork, Passion for Service, Business insight

Westway’s values guide our pursuit of providing a safe and rewarding environment for our employees while helping our customers to thrive.

Our Commitment

We share the commitment of our parent company, ED&F Man Commodities. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and diverse work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and are focused on actively building and developing diverse teams. All qualified applicants will receive equal treatment without regard to race, colour, sex, gender, age, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, marital or civil partner status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment (identity, gender expression), genetic information or any characteristic protected by local law.

We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

To apply you must have the right to work for the provided location.