Sr. Manager, Ingredients - Oils, Processed Grains, & Components

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

Job summary

Kraft Heinz in Chicago seeks a Senior Manager, Ingredients Procurement - Commodities to lead category strategy across edible oils, grains, flour, pasta, and related ingredients. You will drive sourcing, supplier management, risk mitigation, and value creation with cross-functional partners.

The role emphasizes commercial acumen, leadership of procurement teams, and influencing senior stakeholders while balancing cost, quality, service, resilience, and growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• Minimum 6+ years procurement, sourcing, commodity management experience.
• Proven experience developing category strategies and leading negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for oils, grains, flour, pasta, and related ingredients.
• Lead complex sourcing events, negotiations, contract development, and supplier selection decisions.
• Manage supplier relationships and drive value through partnerships.
• Lead cross-functional programs to improve category performance and risk management.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree (Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Economics, Agricultural Sciences, Food Science, Engineering)

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Analytics tools

Job description

As the Senior Manager, Ingredients Procurement - Commodities, you will be responsible for strategic planning, sourcing, supplier management, risk mitigation, and value creation across a portfolio of commodity ingredient categories, including edible oils, flour, processed grains, pasta, components, semi-finished goods, and related ingredients across the Kraft Heinz North American Zone. The role leads category strategy development, supplier relationship management, and cross-functional business engagement to deliver productivity, supply assurance, innovation, sustainability, and long-term business value. Success requires strong commercial acumen, people leadership, market expertise, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders while balancing cost, quality, service, resilience, and growth.

Job Description

Primary Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Management

• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for oils, grains, flour, pasta, components, and related commodity ingredient categories.
• Translate business priorities into procurement strategies that support growth, margin enhancement, supply continuity, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Monitor commodity markets, supply-demand dynamics, geopolitical developments, regulatory trends, and supplier capabilities to proactively identify risks and opportunities.
• Establish category roadmaps with clear productivity, risk mitigation, sustainability, and innovation objectives.
• Lead strategic supplier segmentation and relationship management programs.

Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation

• Lead complex sourcing events, negotiations, contract development, and supplier selection decisions.
• Drive total cost improvements through market intelligence, supplier collaboration, specification optimization, and commercial negotiations.
• Develop sourcing strategies that improve competitiveness while ensuring continuity of supply.
• Negotiate commercial agreements, risk-sharing mechanisms, pricing structures, and long-term partnerships.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Serve as executive relationship owner for key strategic suppliers.
• Conduct supplier business reviews, performance discussions, and capability assessments.
• Build collaborative partnerships that support innovation, sustainability, and operational improvements.
• Resolve escalated commercial, supply, quality, and contractual issues.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop procurement managers, buyers, and category specialists.
• Build organizational capability through performance management, succession planning, and individual development plans.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and ownership.
• Promote best-practice sourcing methodologies across the procurement organization.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead highly complex business initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and significant business risk.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Business Units, Manufacturing, Operations, R&D, Quality, Finance, and Supply Chain teams.
• Drive alignment through fact-based recommendations, executive communication, and business storytelling.
• Lead cross-functional programs to improve category performance, supplier effectiveness, and business processes.

Risk Management & Supply Assurance

• Develop and maintain category risk strategies covering supply continuity, geopolitical exposure, capacity constraints, financial health, sustainability, and quality risk.
• Establish contingency plans for critical materials and strategic suppliers.
• Partner with Quality, Regulatory, and Operations teams to manage supply disruptions and business continuity events.
• Ensure compliance with procurement governance, contracting policies, and supplier quality requirements.

Financial & Business Performance

• Deliver annual productivity, cash flow, working capital, and value creation targets.
• Manage category budgets, forecasts, savings pipelines, and strategic investment opportunities.
• Support business planning and long-range planning processes.
• Develop executive-level presentations and recommendations for senior leadership decision-making.

Role Scope

Categories

• Edible oils
• Flour and processed grains
• Pasta
• Semi-finished goods and components
• Related commodity ingredients

Team Leadership

Provides leadership and development for procurement professionals supporting the assigned commodity ingredient categories. The final reporting structure and direct-report scope should be confirmed during position approval.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Economics, Agricultural Sciences, Food Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 6+ years of progressive procurement, sourcing, commodity management, agriculture, food manufacturing, or related experience.
• Proven experience developing and executing category strategies.
• Demonstrated success leading complex negotiations and supplier relationships.
• Experience managing direct reports and developing talent.
• Strong financial, analytical, project management, and change leadership capabilities.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead through ambiguity.
• Excellent executive communication and business storytelling skills.

Preferred

• MBA or advanced degree.
• Experience within food, ingredients, agriculture, commodities, or consumer packaged goods.
• Market expertise in oils, grains, flour, pasta, components, or related ingredient categories.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and analytics tools.

Success Measures

• Achievement of annual productivity, cash flow, and value creation targets.
• Improved supply continuity and reduced category risk.
• Strong supplier performance and strategic relationship health.
• Delivery of innovation and growth-enabling initiatives.
• Team engagement, capability building, and succession readiness.
• Effective cross-functional partnership and stakeholder alignment.
• Execution of annual operating plans and multi-year category strategies.

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

• 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.