Senior Sourcing Manager External Manufacturing

Mars; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 134,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars Accelerator is seeking a Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager, External Manufacturing, to shape regional sourcing strategies and supplier partnerships. You will lead Make vs. Buy decisions, supplier selection, and ongoing network optimization to support growth, innovation, and cost competitiveness.

You will collaborate with Commercial, R&D, Quality & Food Safety, Planning, Manufacturing, Finance, and Legal to secure supply continuity and drive value, with travel about 25–30%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, Finance, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 8+ years in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, supply chain, or related.
• Proven success in negotiations, contract execution, and delivering cost savings.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, supplier economics, and SRM.
• Experience in External Manufacturing or Contract Manufacturing preferred, with travel ~25–30%.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute multi-year External Manufacturing sourcing strategies for growth, innovation, sustainability, and cost competitiveness.
• Lead external manufacturing network strategy including Make vs. Buy, supplier selection, qualification, and long-term optimization.
• Deliver productivity and value through strategic sourcing, collaboration, and continuous improvement programs.
• Negotiate and manage complex contracts, balancing value with risk across quality, regulatory, legal, financial, and IP aspects.
• Build and lead strategic supplier relationships with executive reviews and performance management.
• Collaborate with Commercial, R&D, Quality & Food Safety, Planning, Manufacturing, Finance, and Legal teams to enable innovation and continuity.
• Monitor market trends and supplier capabilities to advise leadership on a resilient external manufacturing network.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

Supplier relationship mgmt

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

Job description

Job Description:

Who Are We?

Accelerator, a global Division of Mars Snacking, is on the front line of unlocking growth across high-potential categories and brands to fuel what’s next for Snacking. It’s home to both emerging and enduring brands, including KIND, TRÜ FRÜ, NATURE’S BAKERY, RXBAR, EGGO, POP-TARTS and RICE KRISPIE TREATS. Combining the scale of Mars with the agility of a start-up, our Division has the ambition to accelerate the future of snacking by delivering products consumers love today, discovering category-shaping innovations for tomorrow and developing entrepreneurial teams whose impact will last for generations.

We’re looking for passionate talent who dare to dream big, agile collaborators who talk straight and decide fast, and driven performers with a growth mindset. We’re proudly part of Mars, while also building something boldly different. If this inspires and energizes you, you’ve found the right place where you can do cool things with fun people for one of the biggest snacking companies in the world!

What You’ll Do

The Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager, External Manufacturing (EM), is responsible for developing and executing regional sourcing and supplier partnership strategies. You will play a key role in enabling Accelerator's growth, innovation, supply resilience, and financial objectives. This role leads sourcing-to-contract activities, drives value creation through strategic external manufacturing relationships, and shapes the future manufacturing network through supplier capabilities, market intelligence, and cross-functional collaboration. Acting as the commercial lead for EM suppliers, ensure alignment between business strategy, operational requirements, and long-term sourcing objectives.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and execute multi-year External Manufacturing sourcing strategies that support Accelerator growth, innovation, sustainability, supply resilience, and cost competitiveness.
• Lead external manufacturing network strategy, including Make vs. Buy decisions, supplier selection, qualification, capability development, and long-term network optimization.
• Deliver productivity, value engineering, and working capital improvements through strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier collaboration, and continuous improvement programs.
• Negotiate and manage complex commercial and contract manufacturing agreements, balancing value creation with operational, quality, regulatory, legal, financial, and intellectual property risk management.
• Build and lead strategic supplier relationships, including executive business reviews, performance management, innovation partnerships, and issue resolution to drive business outcomes.
• Partner with Commercial, R&D, Quality & Food Safety, Planning, Manufacturing, Finance, and Legal teams to enable innovation commercialization, supply continuity, and business growth.
• Monitor market trends, supplier capabilities, and risk factors to provide strategic recommendations, influence senior stakeholder decisions, and ensure a resilient, future-ready external manufacturing supply network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, Finance, or a related discipline; MBA, advanced degree, and/or professional certifications (CPSM, CIPS, APICS, or equivalent) preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, supply chain, operations, or commercial management, with a proven track record of developing and executing sourcing strategies in complex business environments.
• Demonstrated success leading complex commercial negotiations, contract execution, and category management initiatives that deliver productivity, cost savings, value creation, and supplier performance improvements.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, supply chain dynamics, supplier economics, and strategic supplier relationship management.
• Experience in External Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Co-Manufacturing, Packaging sourcing, or related manufacturing categories strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams without direct authority while effectively engaging executive stakeholders and driving alignment across the organization.
• FMCG, Food, Beverage, Consumer Products, or Manufacturing industry experience preferred, with strong analytical, communication, project management, and change agility skills; ability to travel approximately 25-30%.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

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The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 134,400.00 - USD 184,800.00