Hybrid Global Category Lead – Grains & Sweeteners

IFF; Chihuahua; Hybrid; MXN 1,100,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

IFF is seeking a senior procurement leader based in Mexico with a hybrid role in Polanco/Azcapotzalco. You'll shape regional category strategies for key raw materials and drive supply resilience across North America.

You will partner with Operations, Quality, Planning, Finance, and Legal to deliver savings, manage supplier relationships, and lead cross-functional initiatives focused on budgeting, cost management, and supplier performance.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of procurement experience with direct materials and sourcing strategies.
• 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 a 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 across 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 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

Procurement strategy

Supplier relationship management

Cross-functional leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Market intelligence

Category management

Negotiations

ERP systems (SAP)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

IFF is seeking a senior procurement leader based in Mexico with a hybrid role in Polanco/Azcapotzalco. You'll shape regional category strategies for key raw materials and drive supply resilience across North America.

You will partner with Operations, Quality, Planning, Finance, and Legal to deliver savings, manage supplier relationships, and lead cross-functional initiatives focused on budgeting, cost management, and supplier performance.