Manager, Indirects - Transportation Procurement

Kraft Heinz; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Prescription Drug coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Screenings/Assessments

Paid Time Off

Company Holidays

Leave of Absence

Flexible Work Arrangements

Recognition

Training

Employee Assistance Program

Wellbeing Programs

Family Support Programs

401k

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Job summary

Kraft Heinz in Chicago seeks a Category Manager, Transportation to lead category strategy, sourcing, and supplier performance across subcategories like Dedicated Full-Truckload, Spotting & Shuttling, and CPU. You will manage approximately $285 million in spend and influence cross-functional stakeholders to optimize service, cost, risk, and operational efficiency.

The role requires 7+ years in indirect procurement/transportation, with strong market insight and disciplined execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• 7+ years of experience in Indirect Procurement, transportation procurement, logistics, supply chain, or a related category management field
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with source-to-pay or eProcurement tools such as Ariba, SAP, or Keelvar
• Experience in supplier performance, risk management, and analytics tools
• Strong verbal and written communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills
• Category strategy development and execution
• Strategic sourcing and supplier negotiation
• Contract lifecycle management
• Cross-functional influence and stakeholder alignment
• Cost modeling and financial analysis
• Project and portfolio management
• Sound judgment in complex or confidential business situations
• No direct reports; may provide direction to internal resources and third-party support partners
• Travel: up to 6 trips per year

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain multi-year category strategies for assigned transportation subcategories, grounded in business needs, market intelligence, supplier capability, and financial opportunity
• Translate category strategy into a prioritized pipeline of sourcing, productivity, risk management, and supplier performance initiatives
• Lead strategic sourcing events, including RFx development, supplier evaluation, negotiation, award recommendations, and implementation planning
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and contract execution in alignment with procurement policies and source-to-pay standards
• Manage supplier relationships and conduct supplier business reviews to monitor performance, address risks, and elevate issues when needed
• Track category market dynamics, including pricing trends, cost drivers, supplier shifts, and innovation opportunities, and translate those insights into action with business stakeholders
• Partner with Finance and Data Analytics to manage total cost of ownership, quantify savings opportunities, and support fact-based decision-making
• Identify, assess, and prioritize productivity initiatives based on complexity, implementation effort, business risk, timing, and financial impact
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Logistics, Customer Supply Chain, Operations, Manufacturing, Legal, and other corporate functions to ensure alignment and execution support
• Influence decisions across mid- to executive-level stakeholders through clear recommendations, strong business cases, and credible category expertise
• Drive contract and program compliance through disciplined supplier management and partnership with internal stakeholders
• Anticipate risks, close gaps, and follow through on commitments with an owner mindset
• Support the development and direction of internal resources and third-party support aligned to category priorities

Skills

Category strategy development

Strategic sourcing

Contract lifecycle management

Cross-functional influence

Cost modeling

Project portfolio management

Judgment in confidential situations

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Ariba

SAP

Keelvar

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Category Manager, Transportation leads category strategy, sourcing, and supplier performance management for key transportation subcategories across Kraft Heinz North America, including Dedicated Full-Truckload, Spotting & Shuttling, and Customer Pick-Up (CPU). The role manages approximately $285 million in spend and is accountable for building multi-year category strategies that improve service, control cost, reduce risk, and increase operational efficiency. This person partners closely with Logistics, Customer Supply Chain, Operations, Manufacturing, Legal, Finance, Data Analytics, and other cross-functional stakeholders to translate business needs into clear category priorities and sourcing actions. Success in the role requires strong market insight, disciplined execution, effective stakeholder influence, and the ability to balance internal service with enterprise value creation.

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain multi-year category strategies for assigned transportation subcategories, grounded in business needs, market intelligence, supplier capability, and financial opportunity
• Translate category strategy into a prioritized pipeline of sourcing, productivity, risk management, and supplier performance initiatives
• Lead strategic sourcing events, including RFx development, supplier evaluation, negotiation, award recommendations, and implementation planning
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and contract execution in alignment with procurement policies and source-to-pay standards
• Manage supplier relationships and conduct supplier business reviews to monitor performance, address risks, and elevate issues when needed
• Track category market dynamics, including pricing trends, cost drivers, supplier shifts, and innovation opportunities, and translate those insights into action with business stakeholders
• Partner with Finance and Data Analytics to manage total cost of ownership, quantify savings opportunities, and support fact-based decision-making
• Identify, assess, and prioritize productivity initiatives based on complexity, implementation effort, business risk, timing, and financial impact
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Logistics, Customer Supply Chain, Operations, Manufacturing, Legal, and other corporate functions to ensure alignment and execution support
• Influence decisions across mid- to executive-level stakeholders through clear recommendations, strong business cases, and credible category expertise
• Drive contract and program compliance through disciplined supplier management and partnership with internal stakeholders
• Anticipate risks, close gaps, and follow through on commitments with an owner mindset
• Support the development and direction of internal resources and third-party support aligned to category priorities

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

Experience: 7+ years of experience in Indirect Procurement, transportation procurement, logistics, supply chain, or a related category management field

Technical/System Skills:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with source-to-pay or eProcurement tools preferred, such as Ariba, SAP, or Keelvar.
• Experience in supplier performance, risk management, and analytics tools preferred

Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills

Core Skills:

• Category strategy development and execution
• Strategic sourcing and supplier negotiation
• Contract lifecycle management
• Cross-functional influence and stakeholder alignment
• Cost modeling and financial analysis
• Project and portfolio management
• Sound judgment in complex or confidential business situations

Supervisory: No direct reports; may provide direction to internal resources and third-party support partners

Travel: May require up to 6 trips per year

$’s Managed: $285 Million

Organizational Influence: North America

Customers / Suppliers Supported: 30+

Internal Stakeholder Exposure: High

Supplier Facing: Yes

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range $104,200.00 - $130,200.00

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

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

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 You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

• 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(s) Chicago/Aon Center

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.