About the Function

Procurement shapes how Diageo builds and grows its brands through partnerships, services, and materials that support the business.

Managing over £12 billion of spend, the team works across the global supply chain to create value, drive efficiency, and support sustainable growth. The Procurement Category Manager, Innovation connects Diageo's brand and innovation ambition to supplier capability.

This role embeds Procurement early in the innovation lifecycle, anticipates the packaging and liquid capabilities the pipeline will need, and turns business strategy into scalable supplier solutions across North America.

Role Responsibilities:

Strategy and Leadership

Own the creation and delivery of the Sourcing Innovation strategy for North America, linking the innovation pipeline to a clear sourcing plan, supplier capability roadmap, and value agenda.
Own the strategic graphics supplier relationship across the North America portfolio, supporting both innovation and renovation commercialization projects.
Partner with Brand, Innovation, and R&D leadership early in the stage-gate process, so that Procurement shapes concepts and informs go/no-go decisions on cost, supply risk, and supplier readiness.
Translate business innovation priorities into category-level sourcing strategies across packaging and liquid.
Establish Procurement Innovation best practices and an operating model for how Procurement engages with innovation.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, using data, scenarios, and clear storytelling to influence decisions.

Supplier Innovation and Capability

Build and manage an innovation pipeline from external partners.
Conduct continuous supplier and market landscape assessments in packaging and liquid.
Lead capability gap assessments across the existing supplier base and decide when to develop, onboard, or exit suppliers.
Source new-to-world suppliers and technologies for the innovation pipeline.
Design and run supplier-enabled innovation events.

Value Creation and Financial Stewardship

Shape transparent financials by guiding COGS-setting for new-to-world components.
Identify and deliver savings and value opportunities through innovation sourcing strategy.
Anticipate supply risk and run scenario planning for the innovation portfolio.

Performance, Governance, and Continuous Improvement

Own the innovation KPI framework across packaging and liquid suppliers.
Set the standards for innovation Supplier Performance Management and the Supplier Lifecycle Development Process.
Define and champion Procure-to-Pay (PtP) compliance requirements for innovation.
Lead process improvement and Way of Working opportunities that simplify complexity and create scalable best practices.

Experience and Skills Required:

Experience

University degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering, or equivalent.
6–8 years of experience in procurement, innovation, supply chain, and/or R&D.
Proven experience in packaging and/or liquid categories, with exposure to new product development or commercialization.
Track record of building strong stakeholder alliances and influencing senior leaders.

Skills and Capabilities

Strategic thinking and strong business acumen.
Influence and negotiation skills.
Analytical and data-driven, with the ability to build business cases and cost models.
Advanced storytelling and communication skills.
Strong critical thinking on complex problems.
Change leadership and a continuous improvement mindset.
Curiosity about emerging technologies and AI.
Proficiency in SAP, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Working with Us

Flexibility is key to Diageo's success.
Diageo recognises and values performance, offering a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package.
Diageo values diversity in its broadest sense and wants everyone to feel they can belong, contribute, and strive for their personal best.

Description