Reporting to the SVP & Chief Procurement Officer, you will provide the necessary vision and leadership to develop and implement an end-to-end Agriculture Procurement Strategy and Center of Excellence that incorporates direct responsibility for Agricultural Operations and requires collaboration/partnerships with other related groups (Variety Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Brand and Procurement). The scope includes ensuring supply, quality, and profitability, leading seed to pantry coordination, and using competitive advantages to maximize our brands and category potential for shareholder value.

You Will:

• Develop and implement the Sourcing strategy and pricing forecast for all crops purchased directly from farmers/growers.  Over 60,000 acres contracted in 10+ states and Canada.
• Direct agriculture operations to support sweet corn, pea, green bean, carrot, cucumber, tomato, popcorn, and fruit buy
• Promote Sustainable Agriculture Programs
• Identify technology and digital advancements
• Assess delivered costs
• Assure regulatory compliance and monitor regulatory trends to help influence the establishment of new regulations
• Track global economics and understand how they influence domestic markets
• Track industry trends, market mechanisms, and CTGA strategies’ implications to our manufacturing plants and company
• Identify synergy opportunities (both internal and external)
• Establishes measures of success and KPIs
• Work with supply chain, manufacturing, brand and procurement to manage annual, weekly and daily volume
• Develop and implement strategies for continued supply including JVs and long-term contracts
• Evaluate and execute vertical integration scenarios
• Assess ingredient sourcing strategies, i.e. make v. buy and import v. export
• Supervise and plan Farming Practices – Agronomy Programs
• Partner with other departments to evaluate crops, cropping programs, and crop yields
• Develop awareness of alternative crop cost models
• Conduct Market analysis of competitors and competing crops
• Oversee compliance with Governmental/Regulatory/Trade Affairs
• Develop understanding of macro agricultural issues to defend and advocate CAG interests relating to state and federal regulations on water, fertilizers and the environment.
• Collaborate with other functional partners (Variety Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Brand, etc.) to assess risks and opportunities and accomplish initiatives as a single unit.
• Travel up to 50%

You Have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in crop production, agribusiness. Agriscience or business.
• 15+ years agricultural experience in a combination of crop production, food processing and raw product negotiation.
• Supplier negotiations, category strategies, and contract management experience required.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to manage and direct the selection, training, development, appraisal and work assignments of personnel in multiple locations.
• Project management expertise along with team building skills.

Number of Days in Office: 3

Relocation assistance is available for this position. Preference will be given to local candidates.

At this time, we require applicants for this role to be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring employer sponsorship either now or in the future.

Our Benefits:

We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role:

• Health: Medical, dental and vision insurance, company-paid life, accident and disability insurance
• Wealth: great pay, incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
• Growth: online courses, virtual and classroom development experiences
• Balance: paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role)

Our Company:

Conagra Brands is one of North America's leading branded food companies. We have a rich heritage of making great food, and a team that’s passionate about innovation and growth. Conagra offers choices for every occasion through iconic brands, such as Birds Eye®, Marie Callender's®, Banquet®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim®, Reddi-wip®, and Vlasic®, and emerging brands, including Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®, Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and Frontera®.

We pride ourselves on having the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in the food industry. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. ​