Packaging & Continuous Improvement Procurement Category Manager

About us

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we're the world's leading premium drinks company. Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate, and innovate to build brands consumers love. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you'll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future.

Join us to create a career worth celebrating.

About the team:

Our Procurement team are innovators, always seeking new ways to help our business, people and much-loved brands thrive. We're dedicated to maximising the £12 billion+ we spend every year, building brands of premium quality, while creating sustainable value and growth. Together, we're shaping the services, partnerships and innovations that meet our future needs.

Our procurement team delivers outstanding end-to-end value across our supply chain and offers innovative supplier solutions. Together, we're driving our 'Society 2030: Spirit of Progress' plan across suppliers and agency partners to create a more sustainable world. Wherever you choose to carve your career, we'll support and encourage you in our inclusive culture.

About the role:

• Strategy execution: Take accountability for end to end execution of all packaging sub-categories strategies, track and monitor progress and keep aligned with global strategy making the right adjustments that can come from the implementation of process, that will improve the results in alignment with business leads. Ensure close collaboration of teams aligned behind strategies and resolve Market-wide critical issues. This strategic implementation needs to be reflected in the different important metrics of the Tequila business, such as Productivity, Cash, Innovation & Development, and Carbon Reduction.

• Enhanced Operations Performance: Achieve measurable improvements in service levels, cost efficiencies, and market growth through effective procurement strategy execution. Align packaging materials with operational capabilities, ensure that selected packaging formats and specifications are fully compatible with production line capabilities to minimize adjustments, waste, and downtime.

• End to end category excellence: Take Market-wide ownership for improving procurement value for Diageo from packaging categories, including application of best-in-class market knowledge, partner engagement, global community support in the Market, tools & techniques.

• Continuous Improvement in our Process: Initiates, leads, and implements continuous improvement projects for Packaging categories with the Quality department. Responsible for leading critical, cross functional initiatives in continuous improvement.

• Business partnering: Develop and grow relationships with key customers, partners and suppliers for deeper insights into needs and capabilities; establish a position to mentor on how to gain greater value from close engagement with Procurement. Bring global capability to the Market and categories and lessons learned. Aligned with strategic objectives.

• Collaborate with Operations and Suppliers to optimize Line performance:Proactively engage with internal customers and external partners to co-develop packaging solutions that improve line efficiency, boost performance, and increase profitability. Leverage operational performance data (e.g., downtime, scrap, line speed) to guide packaging material and supplier selection, aiming to enhance production efficiency and reduce hidden costs.

• Contract management. Ensure robust contract management always ensuring compliance, partnering with the tactical team as appropriate for all purchases.

• Mitigate sourcing risks: Assess and mitigate risks within the packaging supply chain and manage commercial arrangements effectively. Implement mitigation strategies by engaging key customers, partners, and suppliers to ensure continuity of supply. Build resilience and flexibility, long-term supplier partnerships, and diversified supplier models. These actions aim to avoid disruptions, amplify competition, and support sustainable growth of the Tequila business.

• Supplier relationship and performance: Establish standards, ways of working and trust relationships with suppliers; ensure Diageo best standard processes are applied and that there is a good foundation for strong performance, risk mitigation and rapid resolution of issues. Elevating to strategic levels implementing Top to Top sessions and alignment. Set important metrics, driving consistency across suppliers and markets, improving the value of data generated and applied and resolving chronic supplier performance issues. Direct which supplier issues should be addressed by the Procurement team and which by other parts of Diageo, for best results and ensuring the implementation of robust Supplier Performance Management programme that delivers improved performance and added customer value

• Supplier development. In line with Procurement strategic supplier strategies, collaborate with suppliers to unlock breakthrough opportunities for the business; stimulate supplier capabilities to generate ideas for the future.

• New Product Development: Provide procurement input for new product introductions and product exits to optimize opportunities for implementation

• 10 years' experience in Procurement Packaging, FMCG/Spirits, with subject-matter expertise in supply markets and spend categories relevant to the role. Supply chain experience is a must.

• Demonstrated performance in leading projects and teams, managing and negotiating with suppliers and experience developing and implementing category and procurement strategies

• Strong analytical skills with hands-on experience in Six Sigma methodologies and preferably knowledge of Lean Manufacturing methodology and demonstrate experience in manufacturing processes

• Ability to demonstrate data-driven insights and process improvement tools to reduce downtime, minimize waste, and optimize packaging procurement in support of operational excellence.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to optimize line performance and improve indicators

• Spanish (fluent), English (fluent) is a must

• Strong analytical and financial awareness, including a comprehensive understanding of AOP requirements and financial goals & value drivers relevant to the categories in scope

• Senior or middle manager or senior specialist role experience with track record influencing and managing senior stakeholders and budget holders and driving cross-border teams

• Exceptional communication skills: verbal, written and presentation; strong interpersonal skills

• Not afraid to challenge the status quo, challenge complacency, develop ambitious plans and bring clarity to others.

• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in data analysis tools, financials analysis, E2E (End-to-End) supply chain management analytics and optimizing inventory levels.

• Negotiation Skills: Strong negotiation skills for securing favorable terms with suppliers.

• Experience leading strategic partners and digital transformation.