Category Manager - Equipment, Facilities & Technical Procurement - Little Rock, AR
 S&D Coffee | |
 United States, Arkansas, Little Rock | |
 Jan 30, 2026 | |
|
Category Manager - Equipment, Facilities & Technical Procurement
Overview Dynamic, self-motivated, and results-oriented leader responsible for managing sourcing, procurement, and technical support of equipment, packaging, and facility systems across all manufacturing locations. Acts as a technical liaison between plant operations and the supply base, driving cost, quality, and reliability improvements while ensuring compliance with regulatory and food safety standards. Combines strategic category management with hands-on technical support, project leadership, and continuous improvement initiatives. Expectations: * Develop and execute multi-year category management plans for equipment, packaging, and facilities, optimizing spend and performance. * Source, assess, and manage relationships with equipment, packaging, and facility suppliers, including MRO vendors. * Negotiate pricing, contracts, lead times, and service terms to ensure supplier reliability and best value. * Implement and periodically review systems to evaluate supplier quality, price, delivery, service, and technical capability. * Maintain approved supplier lists and ensure compliance with food safety and regulatory standards (FDA, FSMA, GFSI). * Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Facilities teams to ensure all purchased materials and equipment meet production and performance needs. * Troubleshoot packaging, equipment, and component issues affecting line efficiency, waste, or downtime. * Support plant trials, validation runs, and new product start-ups from a materials and packaging standpoint. * Lead root cause analysis for supplier-related nonconformances and drive corrective actions. * Partner with R&D, Engineering, and Operations to source and qualify packaging and equipment for new product launches. * Coordinate pilot and first production runs to confirm performance and manufacturability. * Ensure timely material readiness and vendor alignment to meet project milestones. * Execute RFI/RFPs, proposals, and vendor agreements for legal correctness and technical specifications. * Liaise between Procurement, Facilities, and Manufacturing to ensure effective communication and project execution. Technical Support Responsibilities * Provide first-line technical support for equipment and facility systems, including troubleshooting, maintenance coordination, and escalation of complex issues. * Train team members and stakeholders on equipment operation, facility systems, and new technology implementations. * Support installation, commissioning, and onboarding of new equipment, facility upgrades, and digital tools. * Maintain technical documentation, drawings, BOMs, and support guides for purchased components and systems. * Monitor equipment performance, facility systems, and ensure compliance with safety and operational standards. * Analyze technical incidents and recommend process improvements to reduce recurring issues and optimize uptime. Attributes * Superior interpersonal, coaching, and communication skills across all levels of the organization. * Technical aptitude and proactive problem-solving approach. * Ability to identify opportunities for improvement and drive change. * Honest and helpful feedback; celebrates success and gives credit to others. Accountability * Motivated, self-directed, and detail-oriented. * Takes full responsibility for actions and team outcomes. * Follows up personally and monitors progress to ensure objectives are met. * Holds self and others accountable for commitments. * Takes ownership of technical issues and drives resolution. Communication * Contributes to strategic vision for equipment and facilities management. * Effectively delegates to cross-functional team members. * Manages multiple projects and priorities simultaneously. * Ensures information and ideas flow in all appropriate directions. * Communicates technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders. Teamwork * Experience as both a member and leader of teams. * Works cooperatively toward shared goals. * Supports team successes and addresses conflict professionally. * Collaborates cross-functionally. Equal Opportunity Employer/Vets/Disabled | |