Procurement Category Management Lead - Co-Manufacturing

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.

This role is the face of their assigned category and serves as the key interface with business/functional leadership across US16 for respective category. You are an expert of the contract manufacturing category, setting the procurement strategy for spend areas in your scope. This role identifies value‑creation opportunities and leads cross‑functional projects for the category, as well as supplier strategy, collaboration, and local relationship management with a focus on risk mitigation, innovation, sustainability.

You will provide oversight for category‑critical tasks like business continuity planning, supplier performance management, ensure supply, pricing reviews, etc., while working with the business to understand division strategy, requirements, and challenges and to report updates.

Role level and category alignment dependent on applicable category experience, category complexity, supplier fragmentation, total spend, and other relevant factors.

• End-to-end management of assigned contract manufacturing category/categories
• 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
  • Develop deep understanding of supply industry in order to guide business teams through best competitive strategy considering industry trends, constraints, competitive dynamics, etc.
  • Assign initiative owners for category aligned spend initiatives; provide category expertise and help guide initiative savings execution and pull through
  • Use knowledge of 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 elevate 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 projects

• In addition to the responsibilities…