Strategic Sourcing Manager

Company & Culture: 

At GT’s Living Foods, we’re more than just a company – we’re a community passionate about creating a healthier, happier world. Over the last 30 years we’ve built a culture of inclusivity and authenticity, where our shared values create an environment that inspires you to do your best while achieving meaningful results. Our mission to transform health and happiness through potent, living foods has established us as the #1 Kombucha brand and a leader in the Health & Wellness space.

Requirements:

• 6 years of job-related experience
• Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Role Overview:

• GT’s Living Foods is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Manager to build and lead the company’s strategic sourcing capability across all spend categories — Direct and Indirect. This role is designed to be a step-change for the organization: elevating procurement to a disciplined, insight-driven, enterprise sourcing function.
• Reporting directly to the VP of Supply Chain, this newly created role will work alongside the existing Procurement organization and Senior Director of Procurement, who will continue to lead day-to-day purchasing, MRP execution, and transactional procurement. The Director of Procurement – Strategic Sourcing will focus on upstream value creation: category strategy, supplier segmentation, RFP leadership, partner selection, and supplier performance management.
• This role is critical to GTLF’s next phase of growth and margin expansion. The successful candidate will bring structure, rigor, and commercial acumen while thriving in a fast-paced, founder-led environment.

Position Summary:

The Strategic Sourcing Manager is responsible for developing and executing enterprise-wide sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, risk, and scalability across both direct materials (ingredients, packaging, co-manufacturing, logistics, etc.) and indirect categories (MRO, plant services, IT, marketing, professional services, facilities, and corporate spend).

This leader will own category and commodity strategies, run competitive sourcing events (RFPs/RFQs), define supplier selection standards, and implement disciplined supplier management practices. The role partners closely with Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, R&D, Finance, Logistics, and Commercial teams to ensure sourcing decisions support business strategy, product integrity, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Sourcing & Category Leadership:

• Own enterprise sourcing strategy across all major direct and indirect categories.
• Develop deep understanding of key categories and commodities, including cost drivers, market dynamics, supply risks, and innovation opportunities.
• Define category strategies that balance cost, quality, service, risk, and long-term partnership value.
• Identify make/buy, dual-sourcing, and consolidation opportunities as appropriate.

RFPs, Supplier Selection & Commercial Excellence:

• Lead end-to-end RFP/RFQ processes, including scope definition, supplier engagement, evaluation frameworks, negotiations, and award recommendations.
• Establish clear supplier selection standards (e.g., cost, quality, service levels, capacity, ESG, financial health).
• Serve as the commercial lead on complex negotiations for high-impact categories.
• Partner with Legal and Finance on contract structure, terms, and risk mitigation.

Supplier & Vendor Management:

• Design and implement a disciplined supplier management model, including segmentation, performance scorecards, QBRs, and continuous improvement plans.
• Partner with Quality and Operations to ensure suppliers meet product, safety, and compliance requirements.
• Drive accountability for service levels, cost commitments, innovation, and issue resolution.
• Reduce supplier risk and dependency through proactive portfolio management.

Operating Model & Governance:

• Clearly differentiate strategic sourcing from tactical purchasing, working in close coordination with the existing Procurement team.
• Establish sourcing governance, playbooks, and decision frameworks to ensure consistency and transparency.
• Define handoffs between sourcing strategy and purchasing execution to improve speed and compliance.
• Support adoption of preferred suppliers and sourcing strategies across the business.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence:

• Act as a trusted business partner to Operations, Quality, R&D, Finance, Logistics, and Commercial leaders.
• Translate business needs into sourcing strategies that support growth, innovation, and margin expansion.
• Present sourcing strategies, recommendations, and results to senior leadership.

Value Creation, Risk & Capability Building:

• Deliver measurable value through cost savings, cost avoidance, improved service, and reduced risk.
• Strengthen GTLF’s procurement maturity through improved analytics, market intelligence, and structured decision-making.
• Champion continuous improvement and best practices in strategic sourcing.
• Support long-term initiatives related to sustainability, supplier diversity, and ESG where aligned with business priorities.

GT’s Employee Experience (Benefits/Perks):

• Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 401K with Matching
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounts on the amazing GT’s product line (available for pickup at headquarters only)
• Corporate Discounts with our partners through LifeMart (concert & sporting event tickets, cell phone service, gifts, restaurants, hotels, childcare, and more!)

Job Details:

• Full-Time, Exempt (Vernon, CA)

GT's Living Foods, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and maintaining an inclusive culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other basis protected under federal, state or local laws.