Westrock Coffee Company · 4 days ago
Category Manager – Equipment, Facilities & Technical Procurement
Little Rock, AR
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$90K/yr - $90K/yr
5+ years expWestrock Coffee Company is seeking a Category Manager responsible for managing sourcing, procurement, and technical support of equipment and facilities across manufacturing locations. The role includes developing category management plans, managing supplier relationships, and providing technical support to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
CoffeeFood and BeverageGroceryRetailTea
Responsibilities
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
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
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Facilities Management, Packaging, or related field (higher degree a plus)
5–8+ years of experience in Category Management, Procurement, Supply Chain, Equipment/Facilities Management, or Technical Support within a food & beverage or manufacturing environment
Strong understanding of packaging materials, manufacturing processes, equipment integration, and technical support
Hands-on experience in a production, maintenance, or technical support setting
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems, CMMS, and technical drawing interpretation
Excellent communication, vendor negotiation, and cross-functional teamwork skills
Familiarity with GMP, HACCP, and food safety requirements
Financial understanding of P&L and ability to drive results for bottom line profit
Preferred
Preferred certifications: CPSM, CPM, PMP, MCIPS, CPIM, APICS, C.P.M, DOT, ISM, CIRM
Company
Westrock Coffee Company
Westrock Coffee Company is a wholesale supplier of coffee, tea, flavors, extracts, and other ingredients to consumer brands.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$794MKey Investors
HF CapitalWells FargoStephens Group
2025-11-04Post Ipo Debt· $30M
2024-02-15Post Ipo Equity· $72M
2023-06-30Post Ipo Equity· $75M
Leadership Team
Chris Pledger
Chief Financial Officer
Justin Majcher
SVP, Chief Information Officer
Recent News
MarketScreener
2025-12-12
Westrock Coffee Company
2025-11-07
MarketScreener
2025-10-15
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