Fruit Sourcing Lead - Global Procurement

Overview

KIND has a vision for a kinder and healthier world where people don’t have to choose between what tastes good, feels good, and does good in snacking. KIND’s iconic bars are made with real, recognizable ingredients and lead with nutrient-dense first ingredients. We offer a family of snacks designed for a variety of occasions, without genetically engineered ingredients, sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners.

We’re looking for passionate collaborators to help us lead in health & wellness and positively impact society in an inspiring, energetic, and entrepreneurial environment.

As the Fruit Sourcing Lead – Global Procurement, you will play a critical role in Mars Health and Wellness’s Procurement organization. You will work with global cross-functional teams (BU Procurement, SQA, R&D, Ops, Finance) to support strategies and support Trü Frü, KIND, and Nature’s Bakery globally. You will drive business continuity and risk mitigation, collaborate on value leadership/innovation initiatives, own the SRM process, and drive continuous improvement in the Value Chain.

• Strategic development and execution of an integrated buying strategy for a diverse range of fruit products (IQF, Dried/Freeze Dried, Fruit Pastes, etc.), achieving cost, cash, quality and service targets.
• Collaborate with suppliers and external manufacturing partners to manage inbound supply for production (forecasts, order tracking, pricing, etc.).
• Rigorously apply the Strategic Sourcing Methodology to develop procurement strategy and select key suppliers.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives and continually optimize inbound supply chain and material specifications.
• Analyze commodity and economic markets; assess supply and demand; identify market risks and opportunities; build a buying plan and adjust price risk management strategy.
• Provide cyclical estimates on buying performance versus prior cycles, budget, and market updates in Commodity Buying Forum.
• Accountable for cash delivery from supplier payment terms and deployment of supplier financing where appropriate.
• Drive continuous improvement of material quality, specification management, and logistics performance of suppliers.
• Represent Procurement at cross-functional activity team meetings with timely and accurate information related to innovation.
• Influence the external environment for competitive advantage or industry improvement.
• Identify opportunities for innovation by sourcing new materials, origins, and opportunities for competitive advantage.
• Contract recommendations for commodities are made by this position.

• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work cross-functionally to create opportunities, improve processes, and execute projects.
• Understanding of Integrated Business Processes and support of innovation tied to output.
• Experience managing suppliers in a Supplier Performance or Relationship Management program (SPM/SRM) with measurable performance improvements.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Ability to support development of and execute a 2–5 year strategy.
• Previous experience in agricultural ingredients, commodities.
• Track record of identifying and delivering value leadership opportunities and driving growth.

• Able to generate high-quality work in a collaborative, creative, ever-changing, and sometimes ambiguous environment. Well organized and able to manage multiple initiatives to hit timelines.
• An effective communicator, highly collaborative, and able to build strong relationships.
• Highly analytical and inquisitive, turning data into actionable insights.
• Passionate about sustainability and wellness, with a focus on reducing environmental impact and supporting wellness initiatives.
• Highly ethical and trustworthy, inspiring trust in others.
• Proactive and energetic, always seeking to improve or elevate initiatives.
• Curious and an innate problem solver, eager to learn and grow skills.

• Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Food Science, or Engineering; MBA or MS is a plus.
• 5–7 years of relevant experience, with at least 3 years in a Fortune 500 Procurement organization or equivalent.
• Prior experience in…