Operations Innovation Manager Jobs in Mundelein, IL

The Procurement Manager for Innovation connects Kraft Heinz business strategy, brand ambition, and supplier capability to bring new products to life. This role leads project-level procurement support for the innovation portfolio within a business unit. This innovation procurement role is designed to embed procurement early in the innovation process, anticipate future supplier capabilities, and translate business and brand strategy into scalable supplier solutions. This role partners across brands, R&D, operations, finance, quality, legal, and suppliers to translate innovation strategy into procurement execution, supplier readiness, and launch delivery. Reporting to the Group Lead, Innovation Procurement, this role operates in two distinct ways depending on the commercialization model. For innovations commercialized through an external manufacturer, the Innovation Manager owns the end-to-end sourcing and commercialization process through launch and steady-state stabilization. For innovations commercialized in Kraft Heinz plants, the Innovation Manager serves as the procurement integration lead for the business unit, ensuring the right procurement teams are engaged, aligned, and moving at the right pace to support execution. The ideal candidate is strategic, collaborative, digitally savvy, and energized by the opportunity to shape what's next. They are curious by nature, strong in influence and storytelling, comfortable navigating ambiguity, and passionate about building supplier partnerships that accelerate innovation and drive growth.Job Description
Key Responsibilities
• Lead project-level procurement support for assigned innovation initiatives across the business unit portfolio
• Partner with brand and cross-functional teams to understand pipeline priorities, product requirements, timing, and supplier capability needs
• Serve as the primary procurement point of contact for assigned innovation initiatives, ensuring strong coordination across stakeholders and timely execution of procurement deliverables
External Manufacturing Innovation
• Lead the end-to-end sourcing process for innovation projects that will be commercialized through an external manufacturer
• Identify and assess external manufacturing partners with the capabilities required to enable innovation strategy, commercialization goals, and long-term growth opportunities
• Manage sourcing execution for externally manufactured innovation, including supplier identification, RFP development and execution, supplier evaluation, CAPEX and IP considerations, commercial negotiations, contracting coordination, onboarding, launch preparation and early innovation lifecycle support
• Act as the key procurement interface between the business unit, cross-functional team, and external manufacturing partner through development, commercialization, launch, and early lifecycle support
• Conduct supplier and market landscape analysis to identify new partners, innovation opportunities, and competitive advantages
• Bring forward innovation concepts, supplier capabilities, and emerging technologies by building strong external partnerships and staying connected to market developments
• Support innovation supplier sourcing strategy with the base business procurement lead to enable pipeline and enable broader category strategy
• Establish effective supplier ways of working, governance routines, and readiness plans to support successful commercialization and launch execution
• Drive commercialization excellence for externally manufactured innovation by managing supplier readiness, risk mitigation, issue resolution, escalation, launch support, and steady-state stabilization
• Transition supplier relationship ownership, portfolio management, and ongoing supplier lifecycle management to the base external manufacturing procurement team once the innovation is stabilized in steady state
Internal Kraft Heinz Plant Innovation
• Embed within business unit routines and strategy discussions to ensure procurement is engaged early and effectively in internal innovation planning
• Act as the procurement integration lead for internal innovation initiatives, ensuring the right procurement resources are engaged at the right time to support business unit priorities
• Coordinate engagement with Ingredients, Packaging, and other relevant procurement teams where needed to support internal innovation execution
• Serve as a point of connection and escalation between the business unit and the relevant procurement category teams to help resolve issues related to timing, lead times, supplier readiness, and execution dependencies
Both External and Internal Innovation
• Surface supplier-enabled innovation opportunities by identifying capabilities, technologies, and partnership ideas relevant to business and brand needs
• Anticipate and escalate project risks, capacity constraints, timing issues, and supplier readiness concerns early
• Use structured problem solving and scenario thinking to work through sourcing, commercialization, and supplier challenges
• Contribute to continuous improvement in innovation procurement tools, routines, and ways of working to improve speed, visibility, and execution quality
• Maintain clear visibility to project status, open issues, risks, and next steps across assigned initiatives
• Partner with broader procurement organization to ensure alignment to portfolio priorities and innovation strategy and other responsibilities as assigned
• Drive continuous improvement, process efficiency, and best practices across innovation sourcing, supplier collaboration, and commercialization processes
Expected Experience & Required Skills
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, finance, operations, engineering, or a related field; MBA and/or advanced procurement qualifications preferred
• Procurement experience in innovation sourcing, external manufacturing, commercialization, ingredients, packaging, CAPEX, or related categories
• Strong experience working in cross-functional environments supporting new product development, commercialization, or launch execution
• Strong negotiation and influence skills, with the ability to shape decisions and build alignment across internal and external stakeholders
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively across matrixed teams, functions, and supplier networks
• Adaptability and resilience through change, with the ability to stay effective in fast-moving and evolving environments
• Digital savviness and basic knowledge of business intelligence tools such as Tableau and Power BI
• Literacy in and curiosity about AI solutions, with interest in how they can improve insight generation, decision making, and ways of working
• Strong sourcing, supplier management, negotiation, and contracting foundation
• Strong systems thinking, with the ability to connect project requirements, supplier capability, commercialization readiness, and cross-functional dependencies
• Curiosity about AI and digital tools, with interest in how they can improve visibility, efficiency, decision making, and execution
• Strong solution-oriented mindset, with the ability to work through ambiguity, remove obstacles, and drive practical outcomes
• Strong project management, prioritization, and execution skills across multiple concurrent initiatives
• Strong communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess tradeoffs and escalate issues with sound judgment
• Intellectual curiosity and a growth mindset, with a willingness to challenge assumptions and embrace the art of the possible
• Adaptability and resilience in fast-moving, changing environments
• Continuous improvement mindset and willingness to strengthen innovation sourcing routines and ways of working
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with source-to-pay tools such as SAP, Ariba, Workday, and related systems
Work Environment & Schedule
This position is considered a Normal office environment with limited travel or visits to external locations; offices are open workspaces To create a more agile and modern workplace, we allow Chicago/Aon Center based employees to work virtually for up to two days each week and expect them to work in-person during the defined core days at their assigned work location at least three days per workweek.
Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz' strategy and values.
New Hire Base Salary Range:
$104,200.00 - $130,200.00
Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors
Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family's needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
You'll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Emotional - Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• Financial - 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)
Chicago/Aon Center
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact NAZTAOps@kraftheinz.com for assistance.