Sr Buyer Packaging

About General Mills

We make foodthe world loves: 100 brands. In 100 countries. Across six continents.With iconic brands like Cheerios, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, and Haagen-Dazs, we have been serving up food the world loves for 155 years (and counting). Each of our brands has a unique story to tell.

How we make our food is as important as the food we make. Our values are baked into our legacy and continue to accelerate.

us into the future as an innovative force for good. General Mills was founded in 1866 when Cadwallader Washburn boldly bought the largest flour mill west of the Mississippi. That pioneering spirit lives on today through our leadership team who upholds a vision of relentless innovation while being a force for good. For more details check out

General Mills India Center (GIC) is our global capability center in Mumbai that works as an extension of our global organization delivering business value, service excellence and growth while standing for good for our planet and people.

With our team of 1800+ professionals, we deliver superior value across the areas of Supply chain (SC), Digital & Technology (D&T) Innovation, Technology & Quality (ITQ), Consumer and Market Intelligence (CMI), Sales Strategy & Intelligence (SSI), Global Shared Services (GSS), Finance Shared Services (FSS) and Human Resources Shared Services (HRSS). For more details check out

We advocate for advancing equity and inclusion to create more equitable workplaces and a better tomorrow.

Job Overview

Function Overview

The GIC Supply Chain team manages end-to-end operations, encompassing planning, sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, and analytics. They strategically plan to meet market demands, optimize sourcing, ensure efficient production, and oversee the seamless movement of goods from production to delivery. The team employs advanced analytics throughout these processes, fostering adaptability and operational excellence. This collaborative approach ensures a well-coordinated supply chain that aligns with both organizational goals and dynamic market conditions.

Purpose of the role

The Senior Buyer will be accountable supporting the operating unit and/or assigned categories. This role will partner with the Category Management team to advance category strategies and cost management deliverables. The role presents a great opportunity to lead sourcing best practice and strategy with key stakeholders in North America.

Key Accountabilities

• LeadCategory Management and S2P processes, with a focus onservice excellence, supplier performance, risk management, and total value deliverables
• Partner with the Category managers to strengthen and advance category strategies
• Collaborate and influence North America cross-functional teams (e.g. ITQ, Supply Chain, Brand, Logistics)to progress project pipeline, advance category strategies, and on-going supplier management. Provide sourcing leadership on key strategies, including driving cost savings, resiliency, and advancing global impact initiatives.
• Ensure overall supplier performance including service and quality metrics.
• Lead budget and financial process for category/OU scope
• Identify market risks, opportunities and impact (e.g. total cost of ownership, cash flow)
• Enable growth through internal and external connections

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum Degree Requirements: Full-Time graduation from an accredited university (Mandatory)
• Minimum years of related experience required: 4-5+ Years

Specific Job Experience or Skills Needed

• 4-5+ years of experience in category buying, strategic sourcing, or related field, with a focus on direct materials categories such as Packaging.
• Experience in negotiating and managing contracts with suppliers.
• Good understanding and use of fundamental Source to Pay process and tools
• Understand key cost drivers of an agreement to be able to advocate for GMI during negotiations
• Launch tenders /RFI's, RFP's, and Auctions as needed within the General Mills sourcing policy and conduct negotiations with suppliers wit h continuous alignment with relevant stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to implement category strategies that meet operational targets.
• Provides input to Category leadership in the US to build pipeline and consensus on category buying strategies resulting in operational execution plans/initiatives and playbook documentation to prioritize in FY.
• Strong project management, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Past experience working with global teams across time zones.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and procurement systems.
• Agile mindset: the ability to interpret and reinterpret data sets with evolving category strategy in mind - highlighting different insights and opportunities based on stakeholder input.
• Initiative-taker: bias for action with the ability to deliver outstanding results through task prioritization and time management.
• Number sense, ability to identify questionable data, dig in & address it.
• Work closely with the COE Leads, Sr. Sourcing Managers & Directors to understand their category needs and ensure continued value delivery.

Competencies/Behaviors required for the job

Communication

• Ability to effectively communicate ideas (via written & verbal English communication) with stakeholders from different functions within the organization. Engages in cross-functional collaboration to identify innovative solutions.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness: ability to collaborate, communicated, influence and motivate others. Build and maintain strong relationships up and across Supply Chain,ITQ,and Operating Units

Problem Solving / Analytical skills.

• Ability to understand the business requirements and convert them into solution development needs. Incumbents should have experience in working on large data sets. Can identify issues and provide ideas/solutions for resolution.
• Ability and confidence to identify and recommend creative solutions. Identifies both opportunities and needs for change. Adapts quickly and responds effectively to change. Identifies issues or problems and provides a respective solution. Explores and shares innovative best practices with others.
• Strong financial acumen: analytical, problem solving, and project management skills
• Broad Perspective: has ability to connect the dots and utilize strategic thinking demonstrates curiosity
• Decision Making: learns where and how to get information. Asks for help when needed.

Functional Skills

• Ability to deliver outstanding results.
• Completes tasks, activities, and projects in a timely and effective manner.
• Communicates progress on projects with others to ensure overall alignment.
• Provides ideas and input to help the team achieve greater results.
• Assumes personal initiative and accountability for results, performance, and behaviors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred Degree Requirements: Masters
• Preferred Major Area of Study: BE, Supply Chain Management, MBA Operations /Supply Chain
• Required Professional Certifications: N/A
• Preferred Professional Certifications: APICS, PMP
• Preferred years of related experience: 7+Years