Sr. Buyer, EMI - Meat & Cheese

The Kraft Heinz Company • Chicago, IL

10d • $89,800 - $112,200 • Hybrid

About The Position

This role involves owning a defined set of external manufacturing sourcing, supplier management, and portfolio support activities within an assigned area. The Sr. Buyer will manage day-to-day work independently, supporting sourcing execution within Meat and Cheese external manufacturing. This includes supplier identification, bid support, negotiations, contracting coordination, implementation, and performance monitoring. The role also entails managing ongoing supplier interactions, issue resolution, service support, escalation tracking, and performance management. The Sr. Buyer will deliver against defined priorities in productivity, inflation management, cash, service, and supply continuity. A key aspect is building a practical understanding of supplier capabilities, category dynamics, stakeholder needs, and business priorities to support stronger execution and recommendations. Coordination with cross-functional partners such as Operations, Finance, Quality, R&D, Legal, and Supply Chain is essential for moving work forward and resolving issues. The role champions the total cost of the assigned category by identifying and implementing cost-reduction strategies, improving quality, or enhancing the total cost of ownership. Proactive management of supply chain risk and ensuring resiliency through capacity management, including developing risk mitigation strategies, is also a responsibility. The Sr. Buyer will support supplier strategy execution and category planning, lead Supplier Relationship Management activities, and support risk management, business continuity planning, supplier segmentation, and supply base management. Strengthening existing tools, templates, routines, and ways of working to improve efficiency, visibility, follow-through, and execution discipline is expected. Maintaining consistency in sourcing processes, supplier communication, issue tracking, and follow-up across the area of responsibility, and using data and governance routines to monitor progress and accountability are also key functions. The role encourages contributing ideas to simplify processes, reduce rework, and improve speed and clarity of execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, finance, operations, engineering, or a related field
• Solid procurement experience, ideally including external manufacturing, finished goods, ingredients, packaging, CAPEX, or related categories
• Experience managing sourcing activities, supplier relationships, negotiations, contracting coordination, and operational follow-through in a complex business environment
• Strong execution mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities with quality and discipline
• Strong organizational and follow-through skills, with the ability to keep work moving across stakeholders and timelines
• Sound commercial and business judgment within a defined scope of responsibility
• Ability to identify issues early, solve problems proactively, and escalate appropriately when needed
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across matrixed teams and functions
• Ability to coordinate effectively with cross-functional partners and maintain momentum on shared work
• Growing category and supplier management capability, including understanding of performance drivers, risks, and business implications
• Continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to strengthen existing tools, routines, and ways of working over time
• Curiosity about AI and digital tools, with interest in how they can improve visibility, efficiency, and decision making
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with source-to-pay tools such as SAP, Ariba, Workday, and related systems

Responsibilities

• Own a defined set of external manufacturing sourcing, supplier management, or portfolio support activities within an assigned area
• Manage day-to-day work independently within established priorities, processes, and procurement policies
• Support sourcing execution within Meat and Cheese external manufacturing, including supplier identification, bid support, negotiations, contracting coordination, implementation, and performance monitoring
• Manage ongoing supplier interactions and follow-up within assigned scope, including issue resolution, service support, escalation tracking, and performance management activities
• Deliver against defined productivity, inflation management, cash, service, and supply continuity priorities within area of responsibility
• Build practical understanding of supplier capabilities, category dynamics, stakeholder needs, and business priorities to support stronger execution and recommendations
• Coordinate with cross-functional partners including Operations, Finance, Quality, R&D, Legal, and Supply Chain to move work forward and resolve issues within scope
• Champion the total cost of assigned category by identifying and implementing novel and creative means for reducing costs, improving quality, or otherwise improving total cost of ownership.
• Proactively manage supply chain risk and ensure resiliency through adequate capacity management. Develop risk mitigation strategies to meet business needs by identifying potential areas of risk, recommending proposed solutions and executing with cross-functional stakeholder alignment
• Support supplier strategy execution and category planning by providing inputs, tracking actions, and helping translate plans into execution
• Lead Supplier Relationship Management activities by identifying supplier performance themes, development needs, and follow-up actions within assigned suppliers or categories
• Support risk management, business continuity planning, supplier segmentation, and supply base management activities within assigned scope
• Strengthen existing tools, templates, routines, and ways of working to improve efficiency, visibility, follow-through, and execution discipline
• Help maintain consistency in sourcing processes, supplier communication, issue tracking, and follow-up across the area of responsibility
• Use data and established governance routines to monitor progress, support accountability, and improve execution quality
• Contribute ideas that simplify processes, reduce rework, and improve speed and clarity of execution

Benefits

• Performance-based bonus
• Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Employee Assistance Program, Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior