Sr. Procurement Manager, External Manufacturing

You may know McCormick as a leader in herbs, spices, seasonings, and condiments – and we’re only getting started. At McCormick, we’re always looking for new people to bring their unique flavor to our team. McCormick employees – all 14,000 of us across the world – are what makes this company a great place to work. We are looking to hire a Sr. Procurement Manager, External Manufacturing in a Hybrid (60/40) capacity for our site in Interlomas, Edo. Mex. . This is 3 days in the office and 2 days remote. Please submit your CV in English . What We Bring To The Table: The best people deserve the best rewards. In addition to the benefits, you’d expect from a global leader (health insurance, paid time off, etc.) we also offer: Competitive compensation Career growth opportunities Flexibility and Support for Diverse Life Stages and Choices We prioritize our communities and the planet we share Wellbeing programs including Physical, Mental and Financial wellness Position Overview: The Senior Manager, External Manufacturing (EM) Procurement is a dual-scope role that combines strategic category management and sourcing with hands-on EM Operations accountability across the Latin America region. Under the direction of the Global EM Procurement Director, this individual is responsible for developing and executing category strategies, driving cost, quality, and service performance through External Manufacturers, and leading cross-functional project execution across the LatAm network. The role serves as the primary interface between McCormick and its LatAm External Manufacturers, acting as a virtual operations partner to ensure OTIF, quality compliance, and continuous improvement commitments are met. The Senior Manager will also lead or support regional projects spanning cost savings, innovation pipelines, sustainability programs, and network optimization – working closely with Commercial, R&D, Finance, Supply Chain Planning, and Quality teams. Key Responsibilities: Category Management & Strategic Sourcing: Develop and execute category strategies for assigned LatAm EM categories, ensuring lowest total cost of ownership while mitigating risk. Identify, qualify, and manage External Manufacturers to meet growth, innovation, and supply assurance requirements. Lead supplier selection, RFP/RFQ processes, contract negotiation, and legal T&Cs. Conduct in-depth market and supply chain analysis to inform sourcing decisions and make vs. buy evaluations. EM Operations Performance (OTIF, Quality & Vendor Performance): Own KPI tracking and performance management for assigned LatAm EMs, including OTIF, quality compliance, reliability, and capacity. Lead or participate in regular reviews (S&OP, capacity, quality, operational performance). Serve as the virtual Plant Manager for EM sites – engaging EMs in lean process improvement, identifying operational gaps, and driving corrective action plans. Coordinate cross-functional teams (Quality, Planning, R&D, Finance) to resolve supply disruptions and ensure continuity. Project Leadership – CCI, Innovation & Sustainability: Lead and coordinate EM CCI projects within the LatAm region, ensuring initiatives are tracked, on schedule, and aligned to financial targets. Support new product development (NPD) and innovation pipelines through EM capabilities assessment, onboarding of new suppliers, and commercialization of new items. Drive sustainability and ESG-related supplier initiatives in alignment with McCormick's global commitments. Update financial forecasts, manage KPIs, and maintain project trackers (e.g., LASER) to report savings and performance against targets. Supplier Relationship Management: Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) for strategic LatAm EMs. Establish and maintain strong partnerships through regular business reviews, performance scorecards, and mutual improvement plans. Serve as the escalation point for cross-functional issues (Quality, Planning, R&D, etc.). Identify insourcing and outsourcing opportunities and provide recommendations to the regional leadership team. Budget, Forecasting & Financial Accountability: Lead the annual budget and Long-Term Planning (LTP) process for assigned EM categories. Accountable for Purchase Price Variance (PPV) reporting and explanation. Develop and track savings pipeline to deliver against annual CCI targets (~$2M+ USD / year). Partner with Finance to ensure EM spend is accurately forecasted and reported. Oversee development and performance planning for current employees, as well as implementing strategic staffing strategies to ensure a robust and diverse succession plan. Champions a thorough and consistent performance management approach for the team. Secondary Responsibilities: Support due diligence site assessments and onboarding plans for new External Manufacturers. Participate in global EM Procurement community of practice initiatives and knowledge sharing. Provide input to regional and global network design decisions as it pertains to LatAm EM footprint. Support Global EM Procurement Director with ad hoc regional analyses and leadership presentations. Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Food Science, or a related technical discipline. 8+ years of progressive experience in Direct Procurement, Supply Chain, or External Manufacturing within the CPG, Food & Beverage, or related industry. 3+ years of experience as people/team manager. Demonstrated experience in category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier negotiations. Proven track record managing External Manufacturing/Vendor operations including OTIF, quality KPIs, and performance improvement programs. Experience leading cross-functional projects (Cost Improvement, Innovation, Sustainability) required, across multiple markets or countries, preferred. Familiarity with LatAm supplier landscape and manufacturing environment, strongly preferred. Strong cross-functional leadership and influencing skills; ability to work effectively across Procurement, R&D, Quality, Finance, and Commercial teams. Excellent communication and presentation skills – ability to articulate complex procurement and operational issues to senior leadership. Demonstrates resilience, disruptive thinking, and the ability to navigate ambiguity. Bilingual in English and Spanish required (spoken and written); Portuguese is a plus. Strong project management discipline – ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives and meet deadlines. Proficiency in data extraction, analysis, and visualization (Excel, Power BI, or equivalent). Working knowledge of SAP or equivalent ERP systems. Financial acumen – ability to manage budgets, explain PPV, and build business cases. Preferred Qualifications: MBA or advanced degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent. CPSM, CSCP, or Six Sigma certification. Experience in External Manufacturing program management including new EM onboarding and due diligence. Exposure to FSMA, GMP, and food safety regulatory frameworks. Experience with innovation commercialization through co-manufacturers. Background in Lean, Six Sigma, or HPWS continuous improvement methodologies. Demonstrated ability to lead without authority across geographically dispersed teams. Experience managing supplier relationships in the LatAm region. Comfort operating in a matrix organization with competing priorities. Experience managing ESG/sustainability initiatives within supply chain or procurement. Familiarity with S&OP/IBP and demand-supply integration processes. Out-of-the-box thinking, with the ability to propose creative solutions to complex sourcing and operational challenges. McCormick & Company is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. As a general policy, McCormick does not offer employment visa sponsorships upon hire or in the future. WHY WORK AT MCCORMICK? As a McCormick employee you’ll be empowered to focus on more than your individual responsibilities. You’ll have the opportunity to be part of something bigger than yourself—to have a say in where the company is going and how it’s growing. Between our passion for flavor, our 130-year history of leadership and integrity, the competitive and comprehensive benefits we offer, and our culture, which is built on respect and opportunities for growth, there are many reasons to join us at McCormick.