Sr. Sourcing Specialist, Grains

Job Description:

Sr. Sourcing Specialist – Rice, Wheat and Specialty Grains

As a Sr. Sourcing Specialist at Mars, you will work closely with the global category manager & be responsible for sourcing Rice, Wheat and Specialty Grain categories for the North America region. Together you will support the development of category buying strategies and lead execution. Drive value by leading strategic sourcing events, negotiations and managing contracts. This position will work with key suppliers, as well as cross-functional partners and key stakeholders.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• 5-8 years of solid procurement experience in multinational Food & Beverage industry. 
• Food Industry Experience as well as good understanding of US agriculture and commodity markets is highly preferred.
• Expertise in negotiations, contract management and running large RFPs.
• A passion for developing strong relationships with suppliers and cross functional stakeholders both domestically and internationally.
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills and ability to navigate through ambiguity,
• Ability to analyze complex market data / developments and drive insights and actions.
• Ability to travel approximately 20% (may vary due to business needs).

What will your key responsibilities be? 

This role is part of a global sourcing organization responsible for sourcing Rice, Wheat and Specialty Grain categories for North America region.

• Execute Sourcing Strategy: Leverage market and spend intelligence, lead strategic sourcing events, evaluate supplier proposals, and prepare business award recommendations to activate category strategies.
• Negotiate & Contract for Value: In partnership with the cost modeling team, conduct comprehensive analysis to inform negotiation strategies, lead supplier negotiations, and manage end-to-end legal contracting to maximize value.
• Operational & Supplier Management: Maintain operational contracts (e.g., in SAP) for accurate pricing and engage in supplier relationship management as defined by segmentation.