Associate Director, Supply Chain Development - Network

Kraft Heinz; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 164,200 - 205,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k

Paid time off

Job summary

Kraft Heinz in Chicago (Aon Center) seeks an experienced leader to manage day-to-day activities of the Continuous Improvement team, driving process improvement and business analysis across the organization. Build a clear vision for service offerings and ensure alignment with strategic goals.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, capital project oversight, and development of COGS targets, with frequent interaction across manufacturing, supply chain, and leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Science, Chemistry or related field.
• Experience in consumer food industry preferred.
• Minimum 2 years in Plant Manufacturing preferred.
• Ability to understand Marketing/Finance principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercialization for large-scale projects, platform innovations or capital initiatives.
• Review timelines, costs, and mitigation plans with project team.
• Engage with manufacturing, R&D, supply planning, and engineering partners.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Negotiation

Project management

Cross-functional

Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Operations Management

Food Science

Tools

MS Office

Data analysis tools

Job description

Manage the day‑to‑day activities of the Continuous Improvement team that leads and supports process improvement and business analysis practices throughout the organization. Develop, manage, and maintain a clear vision and objectives in building, maintaining and enhancing a comprehensive continuous improvement and business analysis service offerings.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercialization effort for large scale projects, platform innovation programs or significant capital related initiatives. Review project timelines and cost regularly with the project team, facilitate creation of mitigation/contingency plans and manage communication. Ensure effective team engagement with the manufacturing location, R&D, supply planning, and engineering.
• Ensure appropriate capacity for new business initiatives and growth plans across product life cycle. Develop and recommend alternatives as needed. Provide updates to project sponsors and stakeholders as needed on key initiatives, including progress against deliverables, cost management, next steps and needs from sponsors to alleviate hurdles. Escalate concerns and issues, define options/trade‑offs, and provide team recommendation.
• Lead internal feasibility assessment and business case to support business team’s scoping requests; identify impact across the supply chain with regard to cost of goods sold e.g. route to market, capacity utilization, manufacturing efficiency, quality, safety.
• Help develop and assess assigned financial targets, to include the delivery of capital requirements, trial activity and start‑up expenses. Drive development of preliminary COGS, ensure alignment between category team and operations. Engage and support productivity related scoping projects to deliver cost reduction targets.
• Partner with External Manufacturing managers and EM procurement to deliver against scoping activities outside of current Kraft Heinz capabilities.
• Support Business and Manufacturing Systems initiatives as required, and support the continuous improvement of the commercialization process through collaboration with key stakeholders and best practice sharing.
• Execute major manufacturing cost improvement initiatives through cross‑functional collaboration and provide timely updates to senior leaders.
• Manage and deliver assigned financial targets, to include the delivery of capital projects, trial activity and start‑up expenses while leading resource & funding prioritization. Drive development of COGS, ensure alignment between category team and operations. Engage and support productivity agenda to deliver cost reduction targets.
• Support Business and Manufacturing Systems initiatives as required, and support the continuous improvement of the commercialization process through collaboration with key stakeholders and best practice sharing.
• Lead and or participation in various stakeholder governance forums (i.e. Stage gate/Leadership teams).
• Partner with the Business Units/ Manufacturing/ Supply Chain/ Engineering to develop a strategic capacity plan.
• Lead technical and supply chain readiness to support commercialization activity by applying tools that prepare the supply chain and manufacturing facilities for successful start‑ups.

Requirements

• 10+ years of related combined experience in manufacturing, business development or HQ business team experience
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Food Science, Chemistry, or other related fields
• Possess experience working in a consumer food company; startup experience preferred.
• Minimum 2 years in Plant Manufacturing preferred
• Experience with basic Marketing/Finance principles

Competencies / Abilities

• Proven problem solving skills with a proactive mentality.
• Strong negotiation, presentation, communication (written/verbal) and relationship building skills.
• Ability to translate business expectations into supply chain solutions.
• Possess strong planning, project management, and execution skills.
• Experience working cross functionally in a matrixed environment, both regionally and globally.
• Be agile, adaptable, flexible and thrive in a multifaceted and changing culture environment.
• Possess strong digital literacy including a high level of proficiency in MS Office, specifically Excel, amongst others.
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.

New Hire Base Salary Range

$164,200.00 - $205,200.00

Bonus

This position is eligible for a performance‑based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

Benefits

Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing

We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional and financial well‑being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

Benefits (continued)

Physical – Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
Social – Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
Emotional – Employee Assistance Program, Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location

Chicago / Aon Center

Equal Opportunity Employer

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.