Sourcing & Operations ManagerOakland, CA

At Yerba Madre, we're building more than beverages, we're building a movement rooted in community, sustainability, and connection. The Sourcing Manager will lead all sourcing activities for ingredients, raw materials, and packaging across Yerba Madre's North American supply chain. As the Sourcing Manager, you will develop category strategies, identify and qualify suppliers, negotiate commercial terms, manage cost and risk, and maintain strong supplier relationships aligned with Yerba Madre's commitments to Organic, NonGMO, Fair for Life (FFL), and Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) standards.

PLEASE NOTE***The position is based in Yerba Madre's Vibrant Oakland, CA office, min 3 days a week

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Lead sourcing strategy, category roadmaps, and annual planning for all raw materials, ingredients, and packaging categories.
• Develop supplier selection, qualification, and evaluation criteria based on quality, service, cost, risk, sustainability, and compliance requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers that support Yerba Madre's growth, cost targets, and certification commitments (Organic, NonGMO, FFL, ROC).
• Conduct RFPs/RFQs, perform cost analyses, benchmark markets, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Negotiate commercial contracts, pricing, SLAs, supply agreements, and quality expectations.
• Lead supplier performance management, including scorecards, business reviews, corrective actions, and development plans.
• Build long-term strategic partnerships with key suppliers ensuring transparency, responsible sourcing, and supply chain resiliency.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Quality on supplier approvals, audits, documentation, and traceability requirements.
• Collaborate with Planning and Production to forecast supply needs and mitigate risk.
• Support sustainability, ethical sourcing, traceability, and industry certifications across the supply base.

Process & Systems Management

• Manage 1-2 team members; coach and develop skills in sourcing analytics, negotiation, systems use, compliance, and professional communication.
• Maintain accurate procurement data in NetSuite, including item records, costing, approved suppliers, and purchasing documentation.
• Lead cost updates, change controls, and supplier documentation management.

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Operations, or related field.
• 5-7+ years of experience in procurement or sourcing within CPG, food, beverage, natural products, or similar.
• Strong negotiation, contract management, and supplier relationship management skills.
• Proficiency with NetSuite and advanced Excel (vlookups, pivot tables, analytics).

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience sourcing ingredients or packaging within organic, natural, functional foods/beverages, supplements, or botanicals.
• Knowledge of Organic, NonGMO, Fair for Life, and Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) standards.
• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or related credentials.

Continuous Learning

Demonstrates curiosity, proactively seeks new knowledge, and consistently improves sourcing, category management, and analytical capabilities. Stays current on market trends, supplier innovations, and regulatory updates relevant to ingredients, packaging, and sustainability standards.

Customer Service

Delivers responsive, solutions-oriented support to internal partners across Quality, Planning, Production, R&D, and Finance. Balances stakeholder needs business constraints and communicates timelines, risks, and decisions clearly.

Planning & Organization

Effectively prioritizes multiple sourcing activities, projects, and supplier timelines. Maintains accuracy in documentation, costing, supply plans, and systems (e.g., NetSuite) while ensuring deadlines and critical path items are met.

Problem Solving

Uses data, judgment, and structured analysis to resolve supply issues, quality discrepancies, and cost challenges. Anticipates operational risks and implements preventative actions that strengthen supply continuity and compliance.

Teamwork

Works collaboratively across departments and with external suppliers. Maintains a cooperative, transparent, and respectful communication style that builds trust and ensures alignment across complex crossfunctional initiatives.

Use of Technology

Comfortable using ERP systems (NetSuite), Excel analytics tools, and sourcing platforms. Leverages data and digital tools to improve decisionmaking, identify cost/value opportunities, and enhance visibility across the supply base.

Relationship Management

Builds and sustains strong partnerships with suppliers and internal stakeholders. Communicates expectations clearly, manages performance and corrective actions, and fosters longterm relationships that support quality, reliability, cost management, and innovation.

Strategic Thinking & Category Leadership

Thinks beyond transactional sourcing to shape longterm category strategies in partnership with the Director. Integrates market intelligence, supplier capabilities, certifications (Organic, NonGMO, FFL, ROC), and business priorities to influence network design, mitigate supply risk, support growth, and drive continuous improvement across categories.

TRAVEL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Regularly sits, stands, walks; uses hands and arms for standard office activities.
• Ability to travel up to approximately 20%, including occasional international trips to supplier locations in South America, depending on business needs.
• May lift up to 25 lbs. on occasion.
• Onsite at the office for 2-3 days.

What we offer:

Yerba Madre-formerly Guayaki Yerba Mate-is the nearly 30-year pioneer of regenerative yerba mate [yer-bah ma-tay] and the category leader in ready-to-drink mate beverages across North America. The name Yerba Madre, meaning "Mother Herb," is a tribute to Mother Earth and the ancestral wisdom of the Indigenous communities who have cultivated yerba mate for generations -a reflection of the values the brand has championed since day one.

Headquartered in Sebastopol and Los Angeles, California, Yerba Madre sources organic, shade-grown yerba mate in direct partnership with 255 family farmers and Indigenous communities across Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Using its Market Driven Regeneration model, every purchase helps reforest the Atlantic Forest, support fair trade premiums, and build long-term economic resilience for grower communities.

In 2025, the brand became the world's first yerba mate to achieve Regenerative Organic Certified Gold status-setting a new global standard for ecological integrity, cultural respect, and environmental restoration.

As an original founding member of the B Corp community and a founding member of the Purpose Pledge, Yerba Madre is committed to ethical business practices across ten key pillars, including climate positivity, living wages, circularity, and inclusion. Yerba Madre is available in over 45,000 retail locations across the U.S. and Canada. To learn more, visit www.YerbaMadre.com.