Group Lead, Procurement – Innovation EMI - AFH​

About this role

Job Description Essential   Functions &   Responsibilities    

• Lead and develop a team of Innovation Managers responsible for sourcing and commercialization support across the business unit innovation portfolio   mid and long term  

• Translate business unit and brand innovation priorities into clear team focus, resource alignment, and execution direction  

• Champion supplier-enabled innovation across the business unit and brands by helping the team identify, elevate, and connect supplier capabilities to   the 3year   innovation needs  

• Build the operating rhythm for innovation procurement across the portfolio, including prioritization, governance, issue escalation, and progress visibility  

• Coach Innovation Managers through complex sourcing, commercialization, and supplier challenges to strengthen decision making, problem solving, and execution quality  

• Remove barriers that slow innovation delivery by driving alignment across procurement, R&D, operations, finance, quality, legal, and business teams  

• Instill sourcing excellence across the team through strong standards in supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, commercialization readiness, and launch support  

• Drive consistency in how the team manages innovation sourcing activities, supplier engagement, transitions, and cross-functional coordination  

• Lead continuous improvement in innovation procurement ways of working to simplify processes, reduce rework, and improve speed, visibility, and execution effectiveness  

• Support portfolio-level prioritization and tradeoff discussions by surfacing risks, dependencies, capacity constraints, and execution challenges   

• Strengthen team capability in structured problem solving, risk sensing, scenario planning, and proactive stakeholder management  

• Partner with the Associate Director and core category procurement leaders to ensure alignment between innovation activity and broader business, supplier, and category strategies  

• Identify key areas for efficiencies post launch and set the base procurement teams up for success for the future   

• Ensure effective transition of launched innovation   at external manufacturers   from innovation procurement support into base business ownership after stabilization  

• Monitor portfolio health through key indicators related to sourcing progress, commercialization readiness, supplier readiness, timing, and execution risk  

• Foster a team culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement  

Expected Experience   & Required Skills  

• ​ ​ ​ Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, finance, operations, engineering, or a related field; MBA and/or advanced procurement qualifications preferred  

• ​ Significant procurement experience, ideally including innovation sourcing, external manufacturing, commercialization, ingredients, packaging, CAPEX, or related categories  

• ​ Demonstrated people leadership experience, including coaching and developing high-performing teams  

• ​ Strong experience supporting innovation, commercialization, supplier capability development, and launch execution in a fast-moving environment  

• ​ Strong systems thinking, with the ability to connect innovation strategy, supplier capability, commercialization requirements, and cross-functional dependencies across the portfolio  

• ​ Strong sourcing and supplier management foundation, with credibility to coach others on negotiation, contracting, commercialization readiness, and supplier execution  

• ​ 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 initiatives  

• ​ Ability to lead through ambiguity, support team decision making, and escalate issues with sound judgment  

• ​ Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to strengthen innovation routines, governance, 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  

​ ​ ​  

Work Environment & Schedule  

This position is considered a normal office environment with moderate travel to customer locations, stores, manufacturing facilities, etc.; offices are open workspaces. To create a more agile and modern workplace, we allow Chicago/Aon Center based employees to work virtually for up to two days each week and expect them to work in-person during the defined core days at their assigned work location at least three days per workweek.  

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range: $141,500.00 - $176,900.00

Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-bei

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