Welcome to Clyde’s Donuts!
Over a century ago, the Bickford family took ownership of Clyde’s Delicious Donuts. Since 1920, our company has grown to become a beloved name, known for our innovative and high-quality donuts that delight taste buds of all ages. Today, Clyde’s is a thriving, high growth, 4th generation family-owned food manufacturer and a leading national supplier of donuts to the largest global retailers in mass grocery, convenience stores, and food service. Our Company is financially strong with a consistent track record of stability and growth under the careful leadership of the Bickford family. We invite you to consider a career with our special company.
Summary of Position
Work Location: ONSITE in Addison, IL
The Category Manager will lead sourcing and procurement strategies for both direct commodities - including key baking ingredients (grains, sweeteners, oils, dairy) - and indirect procurement categories, such as business services and packaging materials. This role is critical to driving cost competitiveness, ensuring supply continuity, and aligning supplier performance with business goals in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. The Category Manager will collaborate closely with Operations, R&D, Finance, Quality, and other stakeholders to deliver value, manage supplier relationships, and drive innovation across both direct and indirect spend areas.
Essential Job Responsibilities
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for baking ingredients and commodities (e.g., flour, oils/shortenings, sweeteners/ flavors, active ingredients) and indirect categories (e.g., business services, packaging).
- Monitor commodity markets and indirect spend trends to identify risks, cost-saving opportunities, and supplier innovation potential.
- Negotiate supplier contracts and long-term agreements for both direct and indirect categories, ensuring competitive pricing, favorable terms, and performance accountability.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, addressing performance issues and ensuring compliance with quality, safety, and ethical sourcing standards.
- Serve as point of escalation for supplier-related challenges across all assigned categories impacting cost, quality, delivery, or capacity.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams - including Operations, Quality, R&D, and Finance - to align sourcing decisions with production schedules, food safety requirements, and budget goals.
- Deliver measurable cost savings and value creation initiatives through strategic negotiations, market analysis, and supplier-driven innovation.
- Lead supplier performance reviews for both direct and indirect categories, implementing corrective actions or continuous improvement programs as needed.
- Evaluate supplier capacity and capability to support forecasted demand and business expansion.
- Ensure compliance with company procurement policies, industry regulations, sustainability goals, and ethical sourcing standards.
- Complies with all Food Safety Requirements including GMPs when in production areas and reports all food safety or quality issues to the production supervisor.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Economics, or related field.
- 5+ years of combined category management and buying experience, with exposure to both direct (ingredients) and indirect procurement.
- Proven track record managing food-related ingredients and commodities (e.g., flour, oils/shortenings, sweeteners/ flavors, active ingredients) and indirect spend areas (packaging, services).
- Strong negotiation and contract management skills with demonstrated ability to deliver cost savings and strategic value.
- Solid understanding of commodity markets, indirect spend levers, pricing structures, and cost modeling.
- Experience working cross-functionally in a manufacturing environment with Operations, Quality, R&D, and Finance.
- Proficiency with ERP systems (Oracle, SAP, or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel expertise required).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Desired Personal Traits
- A self-starter with a strong work ethic who operates with a sense of urgency.
- Upbeat, calm, and a steady demeanor working with people in fast paced environments.
- Enthusiastic about safety, quality and the customer experience.
- Principled, honest, and ethical
- Detail-oriented and highly organized.
- Collaborative with both the desire and ability to lead, train and mentor employees.
We Offer
Base salary estimates are provided in good faith at the time of job posting. Job offers may vary based on the candidate’s education, certifications, job-related knowledge, skill, experience, geographic location, shift, and internal equity. Clyde’s may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- Target base salary range: $125,000 - $145,000
- Position is eligible for annual bonus
Comprehensive Benefits
- Medical plan options including HMO, PPO and HDHP with H.S.A
- Dental Plan. Two plan options.
- Vision plan.
- Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
- Short-term and long-term disability plans (Company paid).
- Group term life and AD&D insurance (Company Paid).
- Voluntary insurance plans Including life, AD&D, accident, and critical illness.
- Generous paid time off benefits and 7 holidays.
- 401(k) plan including 4% matching contribution and immediate vesting.
- Tuition reimbursement program.
- Various leaves of absence programs for life’s emergencies.
- Clean, modern, and safe facilities.
- Company-provided uniforms and an annual safety shoe subsidy.
Sponsorship Not Available
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. Applicants must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States and with Clyde’s Donuts.
Clyde’s Donuts is proud to be an equal opportunity/ reasonable accommodation employer.
