Sr. Manager, EMI - HDM

Kraft Heinz; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 121,000 - 151,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Healthcare benefits

Wellbeing programs

401k

Job summary

Kraft Heinz in Chicago seeks a Sr. Manager, External Manufacturing Procurement to lead a team of buyers and translate business priorities into disciplined execution across sourcing, supplier management, and product delivery.

You will shape three-year supplier strategies while coaching buyers and driving continuous improvement across the portfolio. The role partners with R&D, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Sales, and Operations to align sourcing decisions with broader business objectives and to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, finance, operations, engineering, or a related field; MBA and/or advanced procurement qualifications preferred
• Significant procurement experience, ideally including external manufacturing, finished goods, ingredients, packaging, CAPEX, or related categories
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including coaching and developing high-performing teams
• Strong experience in sourcing, supplier management, negotiation, contracting, and operational execution within a complex business environment
• Experience developing category strategies and supplier plans that connect near-term execution with longer-term business needs
• Strong systems thinking, with the ability to connect buyer execution, supplier performance, category strategy, and cross-functional dependencies across the portfolio
• Strong supplier management foundation, with credibility to coach others through issue resolution, negotiations, implementation, performance follow-up, and supplier development planning
• Curiosity about AI and digital tools, with interest in how they can improve visibility, decision making, efficiency, and team effectiveness
• Strong solution-oriented mindset, with the ability to remove barriers, simplify complexity, and help teams move from issue identification to practical action
• Strong communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills across matrixed teams and functions
• Strong problem-solving, prioritization, and execution capabilities across multiple concurrent priorities
• Ability to lead through ambiguity, support team decision making, and escalating issues with sound judgment
• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to strengthen team routines, sourcing discipline, category planning, and ways of working over time
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with source-to-pay tools such as SAP, Ariba, Workday, and related systems

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of base external manufacturing buyers responsible for sourcing and supplier management across the portfolio
• Translate business, category, and procurement priorities into clear buyer focus, workplans, and execution expectations
• Coach buyers through sourcing decisions, supplier issues, negotiation preparation, and execution challenges to strengthen capability and judgment
• Drive disciplined short- to mid-term execution of sourcing activities across the portfolio, including supplier selection support, bid processes, negotiations, contracting coordination, implementation, and follow-through
• Oversee day-to-day supplier management routines across the buyer team, including issue resolution, service follow-up, escalation support, and ongoing performance management
• Responsible for execution against productivity, inflation management, cash, service, and supply continuity priorities within the core external manufacturing portfolio
• Develop and maintain category and supplier strategies that balance immediate business needs with longer-term portfolio direction and business objectives
• Shape a 3-year view of supplier needs, supply base development, category evolution, and financial delivery to support future business requirements, growth priorities, and resilience needs
• Lead effective Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and identify supplier strengths, development opportunities, capability gaps, and strategic actions needed to strengthen the supply base over time
• Partner cross-functionally with R&D, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Sales, and Operations to align sourcing decisions, supplier strategies, and execution priorities to broader business objectives
• Work closely with supply chain teams on network design and optimization of the manufacturing footprint for the respective categories, including make vs. buy analyses
• Partner with the Associate Director and cross-functional stakeholders to connect short-term execution priorities with longer-term category, supplier, and business strategies
• Remove barriers that slow buyer execution by coordinating across procurement, operations, finance, quality, R&D, and other cross-functional teams
• Establish and reinforce clear team routines, governance, and visibility to priorities, risks, open issues, and ownership across the portfolio
• Ensure strong consistency in how the buyer team manages sourcing processes, supplier communication, issue tracking, and follow-up
• Support risk management, business continuity planning, supplier segmentation, and supply base management across the portfolio
• Drive continuous improvement in base external manufacturing procurement ways of working to simplify processes, reduce rework, and improve execution speed and quality
• Monitor team performance through key metrics related to sourcing delivery, supplier performance, service, cost, cash, and execution health
• Use data, governance routines, and team reviews to strengthen accountability and improve portfolio execution
• Foster a team culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement

Skills

People leadership

Sourcing

Supplier management

Category planning

Execution discipline

Cross-functional collaboration

AI awareness

Data-driven decisions

Team coaching

Education

Bachelor’s in supply chain

Tools

SAP

Ariba

Workday

Job description

The Sr. Manager, External Manufacturing Procurement leads execution across the core external manufacturing portfolio by overseeing a team of buyers responsible for day-to-day sourcing, supplier management, and operational follow-through. Reporting to the Associate Director, External Manufacturing & Innovation Procurement, this role is responsible for translating business and category priorities into disciplined execution across the buyer team while also shaping the short- to mid-term category agenda and longer-term supplier strategy needed to enable broader business objectives. This role serves as the leadership bridge between the Associate Director and the core buyer team. The Sr. Manager is accountable for coaching and developing buyers, strengthening sourcing and supplier management routines, removing barriers to execution, and driving consistency, visibility, and continuous improvement across base external manufacturing ways of working. The role is distinct from the Associate Director position in that it is focused on team execution leadership, buyer capability, category planning, and delivery rigor rather than BU-level portfolio leadership across both base business and innovation.

Job Description

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of base external manufacturing buyers responsible for sourcing and supplier management across the portfolio
• Translate business, category, and procurement priorities into clear buyer focus, workplans, and execution expectations
• Coach buyers through sourcing decisions, supplier issues, negotiation preparation, and execution challenges to strengthen capability and judgment
• Drive disciplined short- to mid-term execution of sourcing activities across the portfolio, including supplier selection support, bid processes, negotiations, contracting coordination, implementation, and follow-through
• Oversee day-to-day supplier management routines across the buyer team, including issue resolution, service follow-up, escalation support, and ongoing performance management
• Responsible for execution against productivity, inflation management, cash, service, and supply continuity priorities within the core external manufacturing portfolio
• Develop and maintain category and supplier strategies that balance immediate business needs with longer-term portfolio direction and business objectives
• Shape a 3-year view of supplier needs, supply base development, category evolution, and financial delivery to support future business requirements, growth priorities, and resilience needs
• Lead effective Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and identify supplier strengths, development opportunities, capability gaps, and strategic actions needed to strengthen the supply base over time
• Partner cross-functionally with R&D, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Sales, and Operations to align sourcing decisions, supplier strategies, and execution priorities to broader business objectives
• Work closely with supply chain teams on network design and optimization of the manufacturing footprint for the respective categories, including make vs. buy analyses
• Partner with the Associate Director and cross-functional stakeholders to connect short-term execution priorities with longer-term category, supplier, and business strategies
• Remove barriers that slow buyer execution by coordinating across procurement, operations, finance, quality, R&D, and other cross-functional teams
• Establish and reinforce clear team routines, governance, and visibility to priorities, risks, open issues, and ownership across the portfolio
• Ensure strong consistency in how the buyer team manages sourcing processes, supplier communication, issue tracking, and follow-up
• Support risk management, business continuity planning, supplier segmentation, and supply base management across the portfolio
• Drive continuous improvement in base external manufacturing procurement ways of working to simplify processes, reduce rework, and improve execution speed and quality
• Monitor team performance through key metrics related to sourcing delivery, supplier performance, service, cost, cash, and execution health
• Use data, governance routines, and team reviews to strengthen accountability and improve portfolio execution
• Foster a team culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement

Expected Experience & Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, finance, operations, engineering, or a related field; MBA and/or advanced procurement qualifications preferred
• Significant procurement experience, ideally including external manufacturing, finished goods, ingredients, packaging, CAPEX, or related categories
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including coaching and developing high-performing teams
• Strong experience in sourcing, supplier management, negotiation, contracting, and operational execution within a complex business environment
• Experience developing category strategies and supplier plans that connect near-term execution with longer-term business needs
• Strong systems thinking, with the ability to connect buyer execution, supplier performance, category strategy, and cross-functional dependencies across the portfolio
• Strong supplier management foundation, with credibility to coach others through issue resolution, negotiations, implementation, performance follow-up, and supplier development planning
• Curiosity about AI and digital tools, with interest in how they can improve visibility, decision making, efficiency, and team effectiveness
• Strong solution-oriented mindset, with the ability to remove barriers, simplify complexity, and help teams move from issue identification to practical action
• Strong communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills across matrixed teams and functions
• Strong problem-solving, prioritization, and execution capabilities across multiple concurrent priorities
• Ability to lead through ambiguity, support team decision making, and escalating issues with sound judgment
• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to strengthen team routines, sourcing discipline, category planning, and ways of working over time
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with source-to-pay tools such as SAP, Ariba, Workday, and related systems

Work Environment & Schedule

This position is considered a normal office environment with moderate travel to customer locations, stores, manufacturing facilities, etc.; offices are open workspaces. To create a more agile and modern workplace, we allow Chicago/Aon Center based employees to work virtually for up to two days each week and expect them to work in-person during the defined core days at their assigned work location at least three days per workweek.

New Hire Base Salary Range

$120,800.00 - $151,000.00

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.