Purchasing

Undergraduates

Job Overview

Buyer

• Develop and execute buying strategies.
• Cultivate and support new product development and introduction by providing counsel and direction to marketing, research, and quality and regulatory operations.
• Anticipate and successfully resolve supplier and material issues.
• Assist in the identification and development of network systems and points of control for materials management.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships within General Mills, and with suppliers.

Career Paths

Commodities & Ingredients

• Procure commodities and value-added ingredients for finished products.
• Deliver highest quality raw materials at the total lowest cost.
• Develop market analysis and risk management skills.
• Make purchasing decisions.
• Secure the uninterrupted supply of raw materials.
• Manage supplier base effectively.
• Work closely with Research & Development , Quality & Regulatory Operations and Marketing to support product reformulations, new product introductions and productivity efforts.

Packaging Purchasing

• Source functional, consumer-friendly and attractive packaging materials for General Mills products.
• Ensure our suppliers and materials meet our ever-changing product needs and manufacturing requirements while protecting and delivering products that meet our consumers' standards.
• Work with Marketing, Graphic Arts, Research & Development, Quality and Manufacturing.

Indirect Materials & Services Purchasing

• Provide supplier selection, management, contracting and logistics for services, operating supplies and corporate consumables across the company.
• Integrate closely into purchasing activities like creative design, advertising production, information systems, premium and promotional items.

Capital Purchasing

• Support the procurement of capitalized equipment and assets, buildings, construction and related services.
• Lead contracting, execution and management of overall supplier performance in achieving General Mills' capital and engineering standardization objectives.

Training and Development

We've designed a formalized Purchasing Orientation Program to help you make positive impacts quickly. During your first 90 days at General Mills, you'll participate in a series of formal and informal events, building your understanding of specific accountabilities, critical supplier relationships and overall purchasing strategies. You'll meet key leaders who provide support and development, while your manager and peer mentor ensure that the orientation plan is successful.

Working with other functions, such as Marketing, Finance, Grain, Quality, Logistics and Manufacturing, is critical to success and is also part of the orientation plan. Specialized training in our financial and information systems round out the orientation.

The General Mills Purchasing Organization provides our customers with a competitive sourcing advantage. To deliver this advantage, we must develop our people, so we build purchasing expertise and best practices knowledge through meaningful and responsible job assignments supplemented by formal training opportunities. Recognizing and rewarding performance underscores the importance of both individual and team efforts. General Mills acknowledges Significant Achievements through our Purchasing Employee Recognition Program.

Education

Competitive candidates for Purchasing positions hold degrees in supply chain management, business or economics.