Sr. Manager, EMI - MCCS

Kraft Heinz • Chicago, IL

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

This role involves leading and developing a team of external manufacturing buyers responsible for sourcing and supplier management. The manager will translate business priorities into clear buyer focus and workplans, coach buyers through sourcing decisions and challenges, and drive disciplined execution of sourcing activities. The position oversees day-to-day supplier management routines, ensures execution against productivity, inflation management, cash, service, and supply continuity priorities, and develops category and supplier strategies. A key aspect is shaping a 3-year view of supplier needs and supply base development, leading effective Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), and partnering cross-functionally with various departments like R&D, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Sales, and Operations. The role also involves working with supply chain teams on network design and optimization, removing barriers to buyer execution, establishing team routines and governance, and ensuring consistency in sourcing processes and supplier communication. Continuous improvement in procurement ways of working, monitoring team performance through key metrics, and fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration are also essential.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, finance, operations, engineering, or a related field
• 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 escalate 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

Nice To Haves

• MBA and/or advanced procurement qualifications preferred

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

Benefits

• Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
• Events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
• 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: Manager