Global Grains & Sweeteners Category Lead

IFF; Ciudad de México; Hybrid; MXN 1,200,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Job summary

IFF is seeking a senior procurement leader to shape regional category strategies across North America, focusing on grains, starches, and other strategic raw materials. The role emphasizes supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and sustainability, with collaboration across Operations, Quality, Finance, and Legal teams.

You will lead supplier relationships, drive savings, and partner with cross-functional groups to resolve supply challenges.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of procurement experience including high-value direct materials and sourcing strategy development.
• 7+ years of supply chain experience involving raw materials, supplier management, and procurement best practices.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Strong understanding of financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and cost management principles.
• Demonstrated experience in supplier relationship management, strategic sourcing, and contract negotiations.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience presenting recommendations and business cases to senior leadership.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, including SAP and Oracle.
• Ability to analyze commodity markets, pricing trends, freight economics, and other supply-side factors to support strategic decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute regional category strategies for grains, starches and derivatives, soy, sweeteners, and other strategic raw materials, driving sourcing excellence and supplier performance across the North America market.
• Ensure supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and sustainable sourcing practices while delivering measurable business value.
• Apply IFF's strategic sourcing methodology through spend analysis, market intelligence, supplier assessment, and portfolio diversification initiatives.
• Develop and maintain commodity market analyses, should-cost models, supplier cost breakdowns, and pricing strategies to support sourcing and budgeting decisions.
• Build and strengthen strategic supplier relationships, driving collaboration, innovation, and technology-enabled solutions that support business growth.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Planning, Manufacturing Technology, Research & Development, Finance, Legal, and Supply Chain teams to resolve critical supply challenges and implement contingency plans.
• Own category contributions to annual budgets, forecasts, productivity plans, and savings pipelines, communicating financial impacts to key stakeholders.
• Lead supplier business reviews, executive escalations, and strategic relationship plans for critical suppliers across North America.
• Provide leadership within Procurement by supporting team development, succession planning, and cross-category strategic initiatives.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Contract negotiations

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Economics/Supply Chain/Science/Engineering

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

IFF is seeking a senior procurement leader to shape regional category strategies across North America, focusing on grains, starches, and other strategic raw materials. The role emphasizes supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and sustainability, with collaboration across Operations, Quality, Finance, and Legal teams.

You will lead supplier relationships, drive savings, and partner with cross-functional groups to resolve supply challenges.