Manager, EMI - Innovation Desserts

The Kraft Heinz Company•Chicago, IL

1d•$104,200 - $130,200•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, EMI - Innovation Desserts leads procurement support for assigned innovation initiatives across the business unit portfolio. The role partners with brand and cross-functional teams to understand pipeline priorities, product requirements, timing, and supplier capabilities, and serves as the primary procurement contact for assigned initiatives. For externally manufactured innovation, the manager leads end-to-end sourcing and commercialization support. This includes identifying and evaluating manufacturing partners; managing RFPs, supplier evaluations, CAPEX and IP considerations, negotiations, contracting coordination, onboarding, launch preparation, and early lifecycle support; and coordinating with the business unit, cross-functional teams, and external manufacturers. The role also develops supplier relationships and governance, manages readiness and risks through launch and stabilization, and transitions ongoing supplier ownership to the base external manufacturing procurement team once the innovation is established in steady state. For internal plant innovation, the manager integrates procurement into business unit planning and routines, coordinates appropriate category-team resources, and connects the business unit with procurement teams to address timing, lead times, supplier readiness, and execution dependencies. Across both types of innovation, the role identifies supplier-enabled opportunities, anticipates and escalates risks, tracks project status, and improves sourcing and commercialization processes. The position is based at Chicago/Aon Center in a normal office environment with limited travel or visits to external locations. The office is an open workspace. Employees based at Chicago/Aon Center may work virtually up to two days each week and are expected to work in person at their assigned location at least three days per workweek during defined core days. The new-hire base salary range is $104,200–$130,200, and the position is eligible for a performance-based bonus. Benefits and wellbeing programs are available subject to applicable plan terms and may vary by role, location, and other factors.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, finance, operations, engineering, or a related field.
Procurement experience in innovation sourcing, external manufacturing, commercialization, ingredients, packaging, CAPEX, or related categories.
Strong experience in cross-functional environments supporting new product development, commercialization, or launch execution.
Strong negotiation and influencing skills, including the ability to shape decisions and build alignment with internal and external stakeholders.
Strong collaboration skills and ability to work across matrixed teams, functions, and supplier networks.
Adaptability and resilience in fast-moving and changing environments.
Digital savviness and basic knowledge of business intelligence tools such as Tableau and Power BI.
Strong sourcing, supplier management, negotiation, and contracting foundation.
Systems thinking: ability to connect project requirements, supplier capability, commercialization readiness, and cross-functional dependencies.
Solution-oriented approach and ability to work through ambiguity, remove obstacles, and drive practical outcomes.
Strong project management, prioritization, and execution skills across multiple concurrent initiatives.
Strong communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including assessing tradeoffs and escalating issues with sound judgment.
Intellectual curiosity and a growth mindset, with willingness to challenge assumptions and embrace new possibilities.
Continuous improvement mindset and willingness to strengthen innovation sourcing routines and ways of working.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with source-to-pay tools such as SAP, Ariba, and Workday.
Ability to work in person at the assigned Chicago/Aon Center location at least three days per workweek during defined core days.

Nice To Haves

MBA and/or advanced procurement qualifications.
Literacy in and curiosity about AI solutions, with interest in using AI to improve insight generation, decision making, visibility, efficiency, and ways of working.

Responsibilities

Lead project-level procurement support for assigned innovation initiatives across the business unit portfolio.
Partner with brand and cross-functional teams to understand pipeline priorities, product requirements, timing, and supplier capability needs.
Serve as the primary procurement point of contact for assigned innovation initiatives and coordinate stakeholders and procurement deliverables.
Lead end-to-end sourcing for innovation projects commercialized through external manufacturers.
Identify and assess external manufacturing partners for innovation strategy, commercialization goals, and growth opportunities.
Manage external innovation sourcing, including supplier identification, RFPs, supplier evaluation, CAPEX and IP considerations, commercial negotiations, contracting coordination, onboarding, launch preparation, and early lifecycle support.
Serve as the procurement interface among the business unit, cross-functional team, and external manufacturing partner through development, commercialization, launch, and early lifecycle support.
Analyze supplier and market landscapes to identify partners, innovation opportunities, and competitive advantages.
Bring forward innovation concepts, supplier capabilities, and emerging technologies through external partnerships and market awareness.
Support innovation supplier sourcing strategy with the base business procurement lead.
Establish supplier ways of working, governance routines, and readiness plans for commercialization and launch.
Manage supplier readiness, risk mitigation, issue resolution, escalation, launch support, and stabilization for externally manufactured innovation.
Transition supplier relationship ownership, portfolio management, and ongoing lifecycle management to the base external manufacturing procurement team after stabilization.
Embed in business unit routines and strategy discussions so procurement is engaged early in internal innovation planning.
Lead procurement integration for internal innovation initiatives and engage appropriate procurement resources at the right time.
Coordinate with Ingredients, Packaging, and other procurement teams to support internal innovation execution.
Connect the business unit with relevant procurement category teams and help resolve timing, lead-time, supplier-readiness, and execution-dependency issues.
Identify supplier-enabled innovation opportunities, relevant technologies, capabilities, and partnership ideas.
Anticipate and escalate project risks, capacity constraints, timing issues, and supplier-readiness concerns.
Apply structured problem solving and scenario thinking to sourcing, commercialization, and supplier challenges.
Improve innovation procurement tools, routines, and ways of working to increase speed, visibility, and execution quality.
Maintain visibility into project status, open issues, risks, and next steps across assigned initiatives.
Partner with the broader procurement organization to align with portfolio priorities and innovation strategy, and take on other responsibilities as assigned.
Drive continuous improvement, process efficiency, and best practices across innovation sourcing, supplier collaboration, and commercialization.

Benefits

Performance-based bonus eligibility.
Healthcare coverage for employees and eligible dependents, including medical and prescription drug coverage.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Paid time off.
Company holidays.
Leave of absence programs.
Flexible work arrangements.
Recognition programs.
Training and learning opportunities.
Employee Assistance Program.
Wellbeing programs.
Family support programs.
401(k).
Life insurance.
Accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
Disability coverage.
Physical, social, emotional, and financial wellbeing events, resources, and learning opportunities.