Sr. Buyer, EMI - Meat & Cheese

Essential Functions & Responsibilities · Own a defined set of external manufacturing sourcing, supplier management, or portfolio support activities within an assigned area · Manage day-to-day work independently within established priorities, processes, and procurement policies · Support sourcing execution within Meat and Cheese external manufacturing, including supplier identification, bid support, negotiations, contracting coordination, implementation, and performance monitoring · Manage ongoing supplier interactions and follow-up within assigned scope, including issue resolution, service support, escalation tracking, and performance management activities · Deliver against defined productivity, inflation management, cash, service, and supply continuity priorities within area of responsibility · Build practical understanding of supplier capabilities, category dynamics, stakeholder needs, and business priorities to support stronger execution and recommendations · Coordinate with cross-functional partners including Operations, Finance, Quality, R&D, Legal, and Supply Chain to move work forward and resolve issues within scope · Champion the total cost of assigned category by identifying and implementing novel and creative means for reducing costs, improving quality, or otherwise improving total cost of ownership. · Proactively manage supply chain risk and ensure resiliency through adequate capacity management. Develop risk mitigation strategies to meet business needs by identifying potential areas of risk, recommending proposed solutions and executing with cross-functional stakeholder alignment · Support supplier strategy execution and category planning by providing inputs, tracking actions, and helping translate plans into execution · Lead Supplier Relationship Management activities by identifying supplier performance themes, development needs, and follow-up actions within assigned suppliers or categories · Support risk management, business continuity planning, supplier segmentation, and supply base management activities within assigned scope · Strengthen existing tools, templates, routines, and ways of working to improve efficiency, visibility, follow-through, and execution discipline · Help maintain consistency in sourcing processes, supplier communication, issue tracking, and follow-up across the area of responsibility · Use data and established governance routines to monitor progress, support accountability, and improve execution quality · Contribute ideas that simplify processes, reduce rework, and improve speed and clarity of execution Expected Experience & Required Skills · Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, finance, operations, engineering, or a related field · Solid procurement experience, ideally including external manufacturing, finished goods, ingredients, packaging, CAPEX, or related categories · Experience managing sourcing activities, supplier relationships, negotiations, contracting coordination, and operational follow-through in a complex business environment · Strong execution mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities with quality and discipline · Strong organizational and follow-through skills, with the ability to keep work moving across stakeholders and timelines · Sound commercial and business judgment within a defined scope of responsibility · Ability to identify issues early, solve problems proactively, and escalate appropriately when needed · Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across matrixed teams and functions · Ability to coordinate effectively with cross-functional partners and maintain momentum on shared work · Growing category and supplier management capability, including understanding of performance drivers, risks, and business implications · Continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to strengthen existing tools, routines, and ways of working over time · Curiosity about AI and digital tools, with