Description

JOB TITLE: Strategic Sourcing Specialist (Marketing)

REPORTING TO: Sr. Director, Purchasing - Indirect

LOCATION: Buffalo, NY or Chicago, IL

Lactalis Heritage Dairy is currently seeking candidates to join our team in Chicago!

Lactalis Group, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do.

If you're looking for a unique experience with a company that offers strong brands, professional expertise, and a dynamic work environment that champions entrepreneurial spirit, hands-on responsibility, and real opportunity for career development, we want to hear from you!

Lactalis Heritage Dairy: inviting you to share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE.

From your PASSION to ours

The strategic sourcing specialist is a key member of the North American Strategic Procurement team. You are responsible for developing, leading, and implementing short- and medium-term purchasing strategies that deliver best-in-class results in the areas of people, processes and costs for industrial categories. You work in strong collaboration with internal stakeholders, and you ensure that overall focus in accordance with established budget objectives, policies and guidelines under the direction of the Senior Procurement Manager, Indirect, North America.

We are looking for an adaptive, dynamic leader with a proven track record of service excellence, continuous improvement, and cost efficiency in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate is known for his/her strong experience of the supply chain market in the North American market with key successes. This role will be managing complex procurement projects in a multisite, multi division and multi countries (USA and Canada) environment, rapidly growing network across cost, service, efficiency, agility, and quality pillars to achieve long-term cross-functional business plan objectives. This role can be based in Buffalo, NY or Chicago, IL.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Achieve budget objectives by identifying, developing, and supporting North American sourcing strategy initiatives for MRO category in North America.

Strategic Sourcing:

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for marketing spend categories, including but not limited to advertising, media, creative agencies, market research, and promotional materials.
• Identify and evaluate potential suppliers, negotiate contracts, and establish long-term partnerships to ensure cost efficiency and high-quality services.

Budget Optimization:

• Collaborate with marketing teams to understand their budgetary needs and objectives.
• Implement cost-saving initiatives without compromising the quality and effectiveness of marketing activities.
• Analyze and monitor market trends to identify opportunities for cost reductions and improved value for marketing spend.

Contract Negotiation:

• Negotiate favorable terms and conditions with suppliers, ensuring compliance with company policies and legal requirements.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure supplier performance and drive continuous improvement.

Risk Management:

• Proactively assess and mitigate risks related to marketing spend, including market fluctuations, supplier stability, and geopolitical factors.
• Develop contingency plans to address potential disruptions in the supply chain.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with marketing, finance, and other relevant departments to align procurement strategies with overall business goals.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between different teams to optimize the marketing procurement process.
• Demonstrate commitment to a safe working environment that promotes the health and wellbeing of all employees and that will further contribute to the Company's overall performance and success.
• Travel and / or extended or off work hours may be required.
• This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these Essential Duties and Responsibilities.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education & Experience

• University degree or equivalent work experience
• Minimum 5 to 7 years' experience in a procurement function in related field category, preferably at a food company
• Prior CPG industry experience preferred.
• Experience in Manufacturing and/or MRO Purchasing

Skills / Abilities / Knowledge

• High level of initiative and strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership and ability to interact with wide variety of management level and business situation
• Strong level organizational skills (handling workload and complexity)
• Strong planning, project management, and execution skills
• In depth knowledge and analysis of key cost drivers
• High level of contract management
• Skilled negotiator with a strong understanding of contract lifecycle management and sourcing procedures.
• Ability to travel within the United States and Canada and internationally, approximately 20% of the time
• Bilingual English/French is an asset

Lactalis Heritage Dairy is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.