Procurement and Supply Chain Country Manager NAM

GEA•Oakdale, MN

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Procurement & Supply Chain Country Manager for North America (NAM) in the Nutrition Plant Engineering Division is responsible for overseeing procurement and supply chain operations, ensuring alignment with North American strategies and delivering measurable business impact. This role is critical in driving cost efficiency, optimizing supplier performance, and enabling operational excellence across a complex environment. The position ensures an aligned GEA-wide approach towards customers and coordinated local market penetration. The Country Manager executes regional strategy and manages operational procurement and supply chain activities within the cluster, ensuring alignment with regional objectives, category strategies, and corporate standards. Key focus areas include operational excellence, supplier performance, logistics execution, inventory management, project procurement support, sales support, and continuous improvement. The role aims to maintain a high standard of procurement and supply chain approach, driving synergies across other areas and within the Procurement and Supply Chain of the NPE Division.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or related field
At least 5 years of experience in procurement and supply chain leadership within complex, global organizations
Strong expertise in contract management, supplier negotiations, and global sourcing
Deep understanding of logistics, material flow, supply/demand planning, and multi-site operations
Experience with ERP systems (SAP), Ariba, and source-to-pay (S2P) platforms
Proven track record in driving cost reduction and transformation initiatives
Strong financial acumen and analytical mindset
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

A strategic thinker with a hands-on, results-oriented approach
An influential leader who builds strong relationships across cultures and functions
A skilled negotiator and decision-maker with sound business judgment
A change agent who thrives in complex, matrixed environments
Passionate about continuous improvement, innovation, and people development
An excellent communicator with executive presence and global perspective

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day procurement and supply chain operations within the assigned cluster.
Execute regional and divisional procurement strategies and ensure compliance with corporate standards and policies.
Implement category strategies and sourcing initiatives defined by Global and Regional Category Management.
Manage local supplier relationships and support supplier performance improvement initiatives.
Ensure material availability to support project execution, manufacturing, service operations, and customer requirements.
Support project sales and execution teams with sourcing strategies, cost estimates, supplier selection, and delivery commitments.
Monitor and improve procurement KPIs including savings, supplier performance, material availability, inventory levels, delivery performance, and working capital.
Collaborate with Category Managers, Strategic Buyers, Project Procurement Managers, and other procurement functions to leverage synergies and best practices.
Coordinate logistics, warehousing, transportation, international trade, and customs activities within the cluster.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost reduction, delivery performance, process efficiency, and inventory optimization.
Support implementation of procurement transformation projects, digitalization initiatives, and ERP enhancements.
Manage supplier escalation processes and proactively mitigate supply chain risks.
Ensure compliance with procurement policies, QHSE requirements, trade compliance regulations, and contractual obligations.
Develop local sourcing opportunities aligned with global procurement strategies.
Monitor market developments, supplier capacities, and material trends affecting cluster performance.
Act as the primary procurement and supply chain contact for cluster management and operational stakeholders.
Support working capital improvement through effective inventory management and planning processes.
Coordinate cross-functional collaboration between Procurement, Engineering, Project Management, Manufacturing, Finance, Service, and Sales.
Ensure regular reporting of procurement and supply chain KPIs and achievement of agreed targets.
Lead and develop local procurement and supply chain teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Manage facility-related procurement services and local operational support where applicable.