Commodities Procurement Specialist Lead

Foods you love. Brands you trust. And a career that empowers you to grow.


At Nestlé USA, we’re all working towards the same goal – to delight and deliver for our consumers. With a rich portfolio of beloved brands, including DiGiorno, Toll House, and Coffee mate, in 97% of U.S. households, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be there for every moment in our consumers’ lives.

Joining Nestlé means becoming part of an inclusive workplace that inspires innovation, encourages strategic thinking and creativity, and celebrates your achievements. No matter where you work within the organization, you are empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace risk-taking, and pioneer new ideas. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages bold ambitions and continuous learning so that everyone can grow and thrive.


This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

POSITION SUMMARY:

In this role, you’ll serve as a Lead Procurement Specialist, managing the procurement strategy for spend areas in your scope and localizing any globally created strategies. This role identifies value-creation opportunities and leads cross-functional projects for the category, as well as supplier strategy, category risk management, collaboration, and local relationship management with a focus on risk mitigation, innovation, sustainability, and supplier diversity. You will provide oversight for category-critical tasks like business continuity planning, supplier performance management, ensure supply, PPV forecast, etc., while working with the business to understand strategy, requirements, and challenges and to report updates. This role is the face of their assigned category to Nestrade (Global Buying Organization for Nestlé) and serves as the key interface with business/functional leadership across Nestlé USA for their respective categories. The Procurement Specialist Lead will also play an indirect leadership role by mentoring, drive excellence in Purchase Price Variance (PPV) management and delegating tasks to lower-level team members. Proven competence in influencing and ensuring stakeholder accountability within a matrixed organizational structure.

JOB DUTIES/DELIVERABLES:

• End-to-end management of assigned category/categories, including localization of global strategies, development of at-market strategies, and coordination with suppliers and Nestrade buyers (as required)
  • Responsible for more complex categories that require executive-level collaboration
  • Managing categories with high internal or external visibility, ensuring stakeholder engagement and communication

• Execute Nestlé’s 7-Step Strategic Sourcing Process in the North American market, enabling value generation through sustainability, innovation, and cost improvements for Nestlé business units
  • Identify value creation opportunities by developing a deep understanding of each relevant business unit’s requirements, challenges, and opportunities, and leveraging these insights to create and implement savings initiatives
  • Leverage opportunities to lower total cost of ownership or increase value to the business while ensuring supply
  • Assign initiative owners for category aligned spend initiatives; provide category expertise and help guide initiative savings execution and pull through 
  • Use knowledge of global suppliers and processes to bring opportunities to the forefront
  • Benchmark against competitors and promote supplier-led innovation to unlock value
  • Use insights and trends to liaise strategically with the business, factories, and suppliers

• Define risk management strategies for the business and promote mitigation activities to reduce the chance of disruption
  • Proactively manage supplier relationships resulting in a reduction of contractual risks
  • Clearly communicate risks and issues to key stakeholders, knowing when and to whom to escalate significant issue

• Suggest improved ways of working, introducing new processes or re-engineering existing ones in support of key priorities

• • Recognize strategic drivers and activities that support key priorities, both within your category and across the organization
  • Leverage intelligence tools and participate in professional associations to learn best practices and industry trends; apply the learnings to the category strategies to drive continuous improvement
  • Comply with all Procurement and company policies, procedures, and practices, and promote adherence across the organization
  • Apply project management principles to drive cross-functional teams in effective and efficient delivery of business objectives for both day to day activities and key project
  • Analyzing market trends and assessing potential risks to identify Purchase Price Variance opportunities.

• In addition to the responsibilities above, P40 (Lead) role is expected to embody NLF behaviors not only as Employee but demonstrate Leadership NLF behaviors. This can evolve through (but not limited to):

• • Identify and develop business case for meaningful intern project
  • Lead/guide intern developing KPIs, holding performance reviews, and developmental check-ins
  • Embody mentor/leadership role across category teams, act as SME within strategic areas in order to level up skills and understanding of team
  • Responsible for coaching on 7CSS, and other key procurement processes and metrics
• Perform other duties as assigned

CRITICAL EXPERIENCES/EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 7 years Procurement experience preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including but not limited to Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• SAP and Ariba experience preferred

QUALIFICATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Strong understanding of financial markets, derivatives, and hedging instruments
• Proficiency in financial modeling and risk assessment techniques
• Knowledge of relevant regulations and compliance requirements
• Interpersonal skills to effectively build relationships with and influence a dynamic and diverse set of stakeholders, including the ability to listen and understand differing perspectives
• Strategic mindset with quantitative, problem-solving, project management, and negotiation skills and a strong desire for progress and continuous improvement

• Proven ability to analyze and present findings in a clear and cohesive manner to senior stakeholders.
• Adept at managing change and working through ambiguity to identify and drive to a solution, both independently and collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to liaise across boundaries and boarders and influence with integrity

• Strong understanding and demonstration of procurement processes, category management, and supplier relationship management.
• Proven ability to create strong and comprehensive category strategies that drive savings and/or innovation to the businesses they support.
• Ability to independently navigate complex problems and make decisions to change processes to drive improvements with cross functional teams considering end to end impacts, and make decisions that drive value for the businesses they support.
• Ability to coach, review, and delegate work to lower-level professionals, mentoring and helping them to build capability.

The approximate pay range for this position is $120,000 to $149,000. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to knowledge, skills and abilities as well as geographic location.

Nestlé offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k with company match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position. Learn more at About Us | Nestlé Careers (nestlejobs.com)

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.


To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at [email protected] or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. 

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Job Requisition: 409952