Innovation Procurement Lead: Sourcing & Launch Excellence

The Kraft Heinz Company; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Healthcare coverage

Wellbeing programs

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

The Kraft Heinz Company in Chicago seeks an experienced leader to head Innovation Procurement, guiding a team that sources and commercializes new products across our brands. You will align priorities with business goals, drive supplier-enabled innovation, and ensure fast, compliant execution through strong cross‑functional partnerships.

Expect a collaborative environment with a focus on governance, investment decisions, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a related field; MBA or advanced procurement qualifications preferred.
• Significant procurement experience including innovation sourcing, external manufacturing, commercialization, ingredients or packaging.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• Experience supporting innovation, commercialization, supplier capability development, and launch execution.
• Systems thinking to connect strategy, supplier capability, and cross-functional needs.
• Strong sourcing and supplier management foundation with contracting and commercialization readiness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Innovation Managers responsible for sourcing and commercialization support across the business unit innovation portfolio.
• Translate priorities into team focus, resource alignment, and execution direction.
• Champion supplier-enabled innovation by connecting supplier capabilities to 3-year needs.
• Build operating rhythm for innovation procurement with prioritization and governance.
• Coach managers to improve decision making, problem solving, and execution quality.
• Remove barriers by aligning procurement, R&D, operations, finance, quality, legal, and business teams.
• Drive consistency in innovation sourcing activities, supplier engagement, transitions, and cross-functional coordination.
• Lead continuous improvement to simplify processes, speed delivery, and improve visibility.

Skills

People leadership

Sourcing & supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Change management

AI & digital tools curiosity

Communication & influencing

Project execution

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, finance, operations, engineering, or related field

MBA or advanced procurement qualifications preferred

Tools

SAP

Ariba

Workday

Job description

The Kraft Heinz Company in Chicago seeks an experienced leader to head Innovation Procurement, guiding a team that sources and commercializes new products across our brands. You will align priorities with business goals, drive supplier-enabled innovation, and ensure fast, compliant execution through strong cross‑functional partnerships.

Expect a collaborative environment with a focus on governance, investment decisions, and continuous improvement.