Job title
procurement specialist – americas
this is a dual-hatted role combining regional pmo responsibilities and global program ownership. You will act as the strategic pmo partner for the americas regional procurement organization, ensuring visibility, alignment, and progress on regional initiatives and savings delivery. You will also own and drive an evolving global procurement program (starting with supplier sustainability & engagement), partnering across geographies to embed best-in-class practices and continuous improvement.
key responsibilities
* regional pmo – americas: act as pmo for procurement programs in the americas bu, enabling regional execution and alignment on cross-functional goals.
* maintain the bu savings funnel, ensuring transparency, data accuracy, and regular stakeholder alignment.
* represent americas’ voice in central strategy discussions and translate global tools and ways of working into regionally relevant execution plans.
* train and guide regional buyers, enabling them to manage savings funnels, track programs, and work across teams.
* lead or contribute to ideation sessions, capability-building forums, and internal workshops to elevate the strategic procurement capability of the bu.
* global program manager: lead global supplier engagement initiatives to drive action on carbon footprint, responsible sourcing, and sustainable packaging in collaboration with the global sustainability/esg team.
* integrate sustainability into core procurement processes, ensuring supplier due diligence, traceability, and responsible sourcing across categories and regions.
* develop and track procurement sustainability kpis, aggregating regional inputs to align with esg targets and contribute to external sustainability reporting.
* co-develop low-impact materials and circular design practices in close partnership with r&i, packaging, and suppliers, fostering innovation in regenerative sourcing.
* scale adoption of digital sustainability tools to monitor, assess, and improve supplier performance and transparency globally.
* be agile and open to taking on future program ownership as the team and priorities evolve.
what you need to succeed
* ability to connect strategic vision with local execution; both operationally hands-on and future oriented.
* experience working cross-functionally across procurement, r&d, and supply chain teams.
* comfortable managing ambiguity, timelines, and multiple stakeholders.
* self-motivated and proactive, with strong influencing and relationship-building skills.
* an appetite to learn, share, and experiment with digital tools, innovation, and continuous improvement.
experiences & qualifications
minimum qualifications
* bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, engineering, operations, or a related field
* proven relevant experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management
* proven experience managing cross-functional projects or programs
* strong analytical and communication skills, with an ability to work independently and influence stakeholders
* familiarity with procurement tools, data dashboards, or erp systems (e.g. Sap, power bi, coupa, ivalua, among others)
preferred qualifications
* master’s degree in supply chain, business administration, engineering, or a related field
* experience working in fmcg, food, or manufacturing industries
* recognized procurement certifications (e.g., cips, cpsm, cscp, six sigma, or equivalent)
* prior exposure to supplier sustainability, supplier relationship management, or risk/resilience initiatives
* experience working in a global matrixed environment with regional stakeholders
skills
* strategic program leadership
* cross-functional collaboration & influence
* data-driven decision making
* adaptability & problem-solving
* continuous improvement mindset
* effective communication & stakeholder engagement
this is an office-based role that requires 40% of time on site.
we take pleasure seriously. Join the ice cream team now!
unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘whole self’ to work and this includes you! If you require any support or access requirements, please advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.
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