Head of Procurement Foods North America

About this role

ABOUT UNILEVER With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We do not believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future. Unilever Procurement is a world-class procurement organization, managing €38B spend across direct materials and services globally, with 1400 procurement professionals and with a network of more than 50.000 suppliers.

JOB PURPOSE: Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. If you are passionate about making a difference in the food industry, across the globe, then this role is just for you!

As the Head of Procurement, Foods North America , you will serve as the chief procurement officer and senior business partner to the General Manager of Foods North America, with strategic accountability across both the Retail and Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) channels. This represents ~800mE in material spend and 2.6 billion E in BU Turnover. This role sits at the intersection of commercial ambition and supply chain leadership, driving cost competitiveness, savings delivery, resilience, and sustainability while building the innovation and portfolio strategies that fuel long-term growth. The role carries direct influence over some of the most iconic and beloved brands in the consumer goods industry, including Hellmann's, Knorr, Maille, and Sir Kensington's.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITES:

• Lead, develop, and empower a high-performing Foods NA Procurement team, including direct management of procurement managers, driving a culture of accountability, continuous development, and commercial excellence

• Serve as the chief procurement officer and strategic business partner to the General Manager of Foods North America, providing executive-level counsel on cost, margin, and supply strategy

• Own end-to-end procurement strategy for all materials consumed in the manufacture of Foods NA products, accountable for cost competitiveness, savings delivery, material’s innovation development, and total cost of ownership

• Develop and execute multi-year savings and value creation programs, translating macro-economic, commodity market, and geopolitical signals into actionable sourcing strategies

• Drive supply chain resilience across the Foods NA portfolio through diversified supplier strategies, risk mitigation frameworks, and contingency planning

• Lead portfolio and category strategy for Foods NA, aligning procurement decisions with innovation pipeline needs, product reformulation, and SKU rationalization priorities

• Champion the sustainability agenda for Foods NA procurement, including regenerative agriculture, plastics reduction, and broader ESG commitments, engaging strategic suppliers on net zero and responsible sourcing

• Build and manage the innovation funnel in partnership with R&D and Marketing, enabling supplier-led innovation and value chain interventions that accelerate speed-to-market

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Finance, Supply Chain, and Business Units to deliver accurate cost forecasts, support pricing strategy, and inform annual operating plans

• Develop future-fit supplier partnerships that enable business growth through agility, sustainability, and shared value creation

• Represent Foods NA Procurement at senior leadership forums and externally with key industry partners and trade bodies

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

• Team leadership for growth and high performance, fostering a collaborative environment.

• Industry expertise – previous experience working with Foods or Agricultural or CPG preferred.

• Deep understanding of Procurement and how to develop winning procurement strategies.

• Strong business and financial acumen.

• Outstanding negotiation skills.

• Effective communication skills, stakeholder management, influencing capability and cross-functional collaboration.

• Outstanding pioneering mindset, big picture strategic thinking with excellent execution.

• Outstanding complexity management and prioritization skills, with a keen eye for the detail.

• Excellent adaptation to change.

• Growth mindset to adapt digital tools

EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS:

• This is a senior position and will be open to seasoned professionals with prior experience in Procurement and/or Agri business/CPG

• Demonstrated success in implementing break-through procurement strategies.

• Demonstrated ability to manage/develop/influence large teams, direct reports, peers, and stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively business partner, Business Unit General Managers

Travel: flexibility for travel required

LEADERSHIP:

• You are an inclusive motivator of people. Your team delivers with real passion, while growing and learning from each other.

• You have the agility to move between three steps ahead, strategic thinking and operationalization/execution of transformative programs.

• You can prioritize effectively, focus on what counts, and deliver with excellence.

• You can balance high challenge - high support, and care deeply.

• You thrive in a multi-cultural and performance-driven environment.

• You understand the wider business context and you are emotionally intelligent enough to motivate people to deliver what is needed.

Pay : The pay range for this position is $227,700 to $398,475 Unilev

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