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Zack, Sourcing Manager at Food-Tech Company: Advize Career Interview
A winding path from an undeclared college major to a Sourcing Manager role at a leading food-tech company, this individual's career journey is inspiring.
A methodical approach, combining internships at an Israeli tech startup, UC Berkeley, and Patagonia, led to roles at Nike and Impossible Foods.
The work blends quantitative analysis with relationship building, managing ingredients from R&D to supply chain, and demanding financial literacy and strong interpersonal skills.
The biggest challenge is the significant financial responsibility, but the rewards include collaborating with passionate people across the country, contributing to a vital industry, and building impactful supplier relationships.
The interview reveals valuable insights for students: networking for exploration, embracing a "big picture" approach to job searching, and understanding the slower growth pace of food tech compared to other sectors.
Entry-level positions abound for those with diverse undergraduate backgrounds, including accounting, supply chain, finance, business, and communications.
The key takeaway: a passion for food, a concern for the future of the food system, and adaptability to market fluctuations are essential for success in this field.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Zack Reilly
Sourcing Manager
Food-Tech Company
University of California, Berkeley
N/A
Economics
Food, Beverages & Alcohol
Operations and Project Management
Greek Life Member
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Career Path of a Sourcing Manager at Impossible Foods
Zack's career journey began undeclared in college, but a summer internship with an Israeli tech startup and a passion for languages led to an economics degree. Following a methodical approach of identifying interests ("I like sports, like the outdoors"), a procurement internship at UC Berkeley, and a sourcing role at Patagonia, the individual secured a Nike role, eventually pivoting to a sustainability-focused sourcing manager position at Impossible Foods after traveling for nine months.
Main Responsibilities of a Sourcing Manager at a Food-Tech Company
Zack's role as Sourcing Manager at a food-tech company involves managing "all sorts of ingredients" from early research and development—"recommending raw material suppliers and scalable solutions"—to daily supply chain management, resolving issues like ingredient shortages. This includes collaborating with various teams, such as legal for contracts and finance for pricing negotiations.
A Day in the Life of a Sourcing Manager at a Food Tech Company
A sourcing manager's day blends "quantitative and qualitative analysis," involving data-driven decisions on sourcing ("why do you buy something? Who do you buy it from?") alongside relationship management with suppliers. This necessitates constant communication and collaboration across departments and external partners, adapting to dynamic market conditions like the recent sunflower oil shortage and its impact on supply chains.
Most Important Skills For A Sourcing Manager At A Food-Tech Company
A Sourcing Manager at a food-tech company requires a blend of "quantitative skills" and strong interpersonal abilities. The role demands financial literacy, proficiency in software like Excel and ERP systems, and excellent representation of the company in both internal and external interactions, as the Sourcing Manager is often "the only person that they've ever met" at the company.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Sourcing Manager At Food Tech Company
Zack, a Sourcing Manager, most enjoys "working with suppliers" and building relationships with "people from different companies," highlighting the interconnectedness of the food industry supply chain. The role's importance stems from the vital contribution of external partners, as a good relationship with suppliers is "equally as important" to production as the food manufacturer itself.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Sourcing Manager at Food-Tech Company
Zack's greatest challenge as a Sourcing Manager at a food-tech company is the significant financial responsibility of the role, needing to "ensure that [they are] not mismanaging company funds" while prioritizing key tasks amidst competing demands. The constant need to focus on "what matters" amid numerous competing priorities is a significant aspect of this challenge.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Food Industry As A Sourcing Manager
Zack, a Sourcing Manager in the food-tech industry, appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with people from across the country, noting that "the people really care" and the industry is a "relatively small world." The impactful nature of providing a daily necessity—food—is a key source of professional satisfaction for Zack.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Food-Tech Industry, According To A Food-Tech Sourcing Manager
Success in the food tech industry hinges on a genuine passion for food, "it's just your jam," coupled with a concern for "the future of our food system." Adaptability to fluctuating market conditions, specifically regarding pricing, is also crucial for a sourcing manager.
What A Sourcing Manager At A Food Tech Company Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Food Tech Industry
Zack, a Sourcing Manager in the food tech industry, learned that growth in the sector is much slower than in the tech world, characterized by "single digit growth, maybe double digit if you're having the best year of your life," requiring more patience than initially anticipated. This slower pace of change is a key difference between food tech and other technology sectors that prospective entrants should understand.
Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Sourcing Managers
Entry-level procurement roles, such as "buyer roles" and "associate buyer positions," are plentiful, with opportunities also existing as "sourcing analyst" positions focusing on business intelligence and data analysis within the broader supply chain. A diverse range of undergraduate backgrounds—"accounting, supply chain, finance, business, [and] communications"—are all applicable to these entry-level positions.
Significant Career Lesson From a Sourcing Manager at a Food-Tech Company
Zack, a Sourcing Manager, learned that while supporting colleagues is important ("treat your coworkers well"), prioritizing one's own career advancement within a for-profit company is equally crucial, stating "you don't owe your company anything." This perspective, coupled with a healthy dose of skepticism about a company's priorities, is essential for navigating career changes and workplace dynamics.
College Experiences That Helped a Sourcing Manager at a Food-Tech Company Succeed
Zack's undergraduate success stemmed from "networking," not for networking's sake, but for learning about diverse career paths and remaining open to different opportunities. This approach, combined with a willingness to "do random stuff," allowed for exploration and ultimately contributed to their current success as a Sourcing Manager in the food-tech industry.
How Identity Has Influenced A Sourcing Manager's Career At A Food-Tech Company
Zack, a Sourcing Manager at a Food-Tech company, advises social science students lacking detail-orientation to adopt a "big picture" approach to job searching, accepting that "whatever that first job is isn't gonna be your dream job," and embracing trial and error. The Berkeley graduate emphasizes the importance of effort in the job search, noting that the initial value of a degree diminishes over time, allowing for skill development later in one's career.
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