Sr. Manager, Procurement - Global Travel

Job Description

Job Purpose

The Senior Manager for Travel Services will be responsible for planning and sourcing activities within the travel subcategories, handling a meaningful budget across the entire enterprise and collaborating with various suppliers. Design and craft the Global Travel Category, engaging with regional procurement, delivering global strategies and initiatives, and ensuring their execution in the corresponding zones. This role will drive a global compliance and governance program, perform benchmarking, market intelligence, and facilitate the sharing of best practices across zones, while harmonizing and standardizing procurement processes, striving for efficiency and global/regional simplification and deliver agreements that contribute across zones.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Use procurement processes, tools, and systems, being responsible for lifecycle management, and demonstrating expertise in category planning, development, and execution.
• Maintain relationships with strategic suppliers, acting as the global critical issue point and supervising executive-level client and senior supplier relationships.
• Lead global sophisticated sourcing activities across Corporate Travel Agencies, Hotels, Airlines, and technology services.
• Lead global programs on suppliers’ development, innovation, and market trends.
• Identify zone business needs in Assurance of Travel needs and demand
• Build strong relationships with key partners (including frequent travelers)
• Identify and evaluate potential value-generating global projects.
• Implement sophisticated global contracts and maintain a strong understanding of category dynamics.
• Lead Total Cost of Ownership at the category level and enable continuous process improvement and cost reduction.
• Apply robust strategic sourcing processes to all projects.
• Challenge the status quo positively and influence change.
• Handle and develop internal and third-party administrator team resources.
• Drive global collaboration to the global strategy whilst continue to default to the Zone Procurement teams on zone execution and partner management.
  
  
  

Expected Experience & Required Skills

• Bachelor/Master’s degree, preferably in Engineering, Procurement, Management, Supply Chain, or related business areas.
• 8+ years of proven track record in Global and/or Regional Indirect Procurement or relevant industry roles.
• APICS, Project Management - preferred but not required.
• Demonstrated drive, leadership in global projects/initiatives, multicultural background, vendor management, conflict resolution, and teamwork skills.
• Experience working across international timelines and communities.
• Effective communication and influencing skills.
• Manager organisational change, resilience, and adaptability in sophisticated environments.
• Experience leading global Indirect categories, preferably in the Travel category.
• Must have experience in developing long-term business strategies, establishing strategic direction based on external market insights and organization capabilities.
• Recognized as an expert in the field, aligning strategy with organizational goals and delivering impactful results.
• Extensive experience in the sourcing life cycle process with a strong grasp of required tools.
• Ability to multi-task, attention to detail, organizational skills, outstanding customer service, judgment in handling confidential information.
  
  
  

Location(s)

Chicago/Aon Center

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the job application or hiring process should contact NATAI@kraftheinz.com .