Media & Marketing Procurement Manager

Earlier this year, Unilever announced an agreement to combine its Foods business with McCormick & Company, creating a scaled global flavor powerhouse. The proposed combination would bring together iconic Foods brands, including Hellmann’s and Knorr, with McCormick’s portfolio to create a global leader across spices, seasonings, condiments and complementary food categories, supported by strong retail and foodservice platforms. McCormick brings more than 135 years of heritage, a presence in 150+ countries and territories, and a portfolio of trusted brands. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, with completion estimated for mid-2027. 

JOB PURPOSE 

This role exists to own end-to-end Media and Marketing procurement for North America, managing €250+ million in spend and translating business, brand, consumer and channel priorities into integrated portfolio, sourcing and supplier plans. The role develops and executes multi-year regional strategies aligned with global direction across media, creative, agencies and related marketing services, applying scale where it creates value while responding to brand and market needs. Working with Marketing, Media, Brand teams, Finance, Legal, Business Groups, markets and strategic suppliers, the role enables growth, marketing effectiveness, value protection, responsible sourcing, social sustainability, digital enablement and disciplined regional transformation. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Lead, develop and empower the North America Media & Marketing Procurement team of two FTEs, including this Manager role, with one Assistant Manager reporting directly, responsible for approximately €250+ million managed spend. 

• Own end-to-end Media and Marketing procurement for North America, translating business, brand, consumer and channel priorities into integrated portfolio, sourcing and supplier plans. 

• Develop and execute multi-year regional strategies aligned with global direction across media, creative, agencies and related marketing services. 

• Lead complex sourcing, negotiation and contracting with agencies, media owners, platforms and marketing-service providers, establishing transparent commercial models, governance and risk controls. 

• Build strategic supplier partnerships and joint growth roadmaps, managing performance across effectiveness, value, innovation, service, diversity, responsible sourcing and compliance. 

• Partner with Marketing, Media, Brand teams, Finance, Legal, Business Groups and markets to shape operating models and commercial approaches that enable growth and protect value. 

• Lead regional transformation priorities, including digital and retail media, technology-enabled sourcing, analytics, automation, agency-model evolution and simplified ways of working. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• University degree in Procurement, Business, Marketing, Finance or a related discipline, with 5+ years of procurement experience in Media, Marketing, Creative, Agency or related indirect categories. 

• Strong strategic-sourcing, negotiation and contracting capability across agencies, media partners, platforms and marketing-services suppliers. 

• Strong understanding of media and marketing supply markets, agency economics, value chains and FMCG business models. 

• Proven supplier-relationship, performance and risk-management experience, including value, effectiveness, service, innovation, responsible sourcing and compliance. 

• Demonstrated success leading regional media and marketing procurement strategies and programs across multiple markets, with experience operating at comparable spend and organizational scale. 

• Strong financial, business, stakeholder engagement, communication, storytelling and influencing capability, with fluent written and spoken English. 

• Enterprise leadership mindset, with the ability to set clear priorities, lead through ambiguity and media-market change, balance strategic thinking with execution, build trusted senior stakeholder relationships and develop the Assistant Manager while contributing to broader procurement capability development. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Exposure to digital media, retail media, marketing technology or technology-enabled sourcing. 

• Experience supporting cross-functional sourcing, operating-model, digital-enablement or change programs. 

• Experience using benchmarks, data or external intelligence to improve marketing effectiveness, supplier performance or portfolio decisions.

We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.  

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment journey. Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner. 

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At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.

Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities.

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Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected]. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.