Senior Specialist Category Management Buyer - MRO

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.

 

 

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Sr. Specialist Category Management Buyer (MRO) is responsible for creating and executing a Category Strategy for each assigned category, based on business objectives and understanding of the supply market using the 7 steps to strategic sourcing process. This role involves ensuring Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) for materials, identifying cost savings initiatives, developing strategic relationships with suppliers, facilitating innovation opportunities, making contracting decisions, conducting negotiations, and reducing Nestle's total cost of ownership. The Procurement Category Buyer also plays a crucial role in maintaining a strong understanding of Purchase Price Variance (PPV), representing it in monthly meetings with Business Partners and Procurement Leaders, managing supply incidents, and driving improvements in on-time delivery and quality through Vendor Evaluation Scorecard conversations.

 

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop comprehensive Category Strategies for each assigned category, in context of business objectives and utilizing the 7 steps to strategic sourcing process to understand and integrate category expertise, to set the direction of sourcing for the categories. Annually present strategies to Procurement and cross functional teams
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with suppliers, fostering collaboration and innovation
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction and cost avoidance projects including Simplex, and present analysis & category expertise driven insights to Business Partnering and Technical Application Group (TAG) teams, drive execution of projects and maintain accurate records in Oscar
• Ensure Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) are in place for materials within the assigned categories
• Identify and present innovation opportunities from suppliers to Procurement Business Partners and innovation to launch (i2L) specialists to drive innovation
• Conduct requests for proposals (RFPs) and negotiations with suppliers to achieve the most favorable price, incoterm and payment terms to reduce Nestle Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), make contracting decisions accordingly
• Proactively maintain accurate material and freight pricing to drive Purchase Price Variance (PPV) accuracy. Credibly and effectively communicate aggravation and favorability of PPV for assigned categories to Business Partnering teams
• Collaborate with factory supply chain teams and suppliers to minimize or eliminate disruptions to contracted supply
• Initiate Vendor Evaluation Scorecard conversations and drive for improvements in on-time delivery and quality with suppliers
• Stay updated on market trends, industry best practices, and regulatory requirements related to the assigned categories to reduce and communicate risk and understand price changes
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Finance, Legal, and Quality Assurance, to ensure compliance and alignment with company policies and standards
• Collaborate with suppliers to identify regenerative agriculture and carbon reduction opportunities and work with the Procurement Sustainability team to capture projects that contribute to Nestle’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction goals

 

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Economics, or a related field is required
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Strategic Buying, supplier relationship management, and managing financial business impacts of decisions is required
• Understanding of procurement processes, category management, and supplier relationship management
• Proven experience in negotiation and cross functional influencing skills
• Ability to navigate complex problems independently and make decisions to change processes to drive improvements