Key Responsibilities Lead the end-to-end procurement cycle for direct materials, ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement to support plant operations and business continuity. Prepare, execute, and manage purchase orders and releases in alignment with demand plans and supply strategies. Oversee and manage day-to-day supplier transactions, ensuring compliance with contract terms and procurement policies. Select and recommend suppliers for requisitions in accordance with sourcing strategies, ensuring quality, cost-efficiency, and delivery performance. Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to resolve invoice discrepancies, delivery issues, claims, and product returns. Coordinate with accounting and end users to reconcile discrepancies and ensure proper account allocations for purchased items. Route high-value or non-contracted items to tactical buyers or category leads for resolution. Act as a point of contact to resolve procurement-related queries from internal stakeholders and guide junior team members in the P2R process. Identify opportunities and promote supplier diversity initiatives in alignment with company goals. Maintain positive supplier relationships and ensure supplier performance through continuous engagement and communication. Generate and provide procurement reports, insights, and spend analysis to support strategic decision-making. Continuously identify opportunities for process improvement and cost savings in the procurement function. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field. Minimum 5+ years of experience in procurement, preferably managing direct categories in a manufacturing, plant environment and/or Consumer Goods industry. Solid understanding of procurement policies, purchasing methods, and P2P systems. Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Coupa, or Ariba. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an ability to navigate complex supplier issues. Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills. Demonstrated ability to lead and support cross-functional teams and resolve operational challenges proactively. Knowledge of supplier diversity programs and sustainability in procurement is a plus. Bilingual Spanish - English. Portuguese is a PLUS GEP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability status, or any other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to hiring and valuing a global diverse work team. #J-18808-Ljbffr