External Manufacturing Solutions Lead

External Manufacturing Solutions Lead Travel Required: up to 10% of time Posting Start Date: 5/26/26 Hybrid Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country Job Number#173140 - Overland Park, Kansas, United States Role Summary As the External Manufacturing Solutions Lead you will be responsible for the delivery of allocated production volumes at Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s external manufacturing partners and co-packers. You will be a key link between conventional supply chain management and ongoing digital transformation. You will manage the entire process, from negotiating manufacturing capacity and allocating volume to developing and deploying automated tools. You will manage the day‑to‑day relationship with external partners while ensuring all data flows are optimized for automation, accuracy and responsiveness for partners and internal stakeholders (R&D, Quality, Finance, IT, etc.). Responsibilities Operational Management: Lead capacity negotiations, contract updates, periodic price adjustments, and delivery of quality goals with external partners. Relationship management: Serve as the primary point of contact with external partners by leading operational meetings, facilitating strategic product plans, and managing vendor expectations to ensure alignment with Hill’s corporate values. Production & Logistics: Build predictive models to support the automation of the production planning process with the Customer Service & Logistics team. Performance Tracking: Monitor and report operational KPIs by creating real‑time dashboards and AI‑driven reporting tools to autonomously monitor production volumes. Financial Oversight: Manage month‑end close activities in cooperation with Finance and co‑create data models to achieve cost targets and savings goals. Risk Mitigation: Perform reviews of obsolescence risk and working capital optimization. SAP Accuracy: Execute and automate SAP transactions to reflect the performance of the allocated portfolio in real‑time. Continuous Improvement: Proactively identify manual "ways of working" and partner with the Data and Analytics team to design and deploy tools (such as AI agents, predictive analytics, or automated workflows) to improve business responsiveness. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (Computer Science, Data Science, or Engineering) or a Business degree with a heavy focus on Business Analytics/Systems. 5+ years of experience in Supply Chain or Logistics. Proficiency with data visualization tools or AI tools (Snowflake, Notebook LM, Domo or similar). Preferred Qualifications Strong SAP experience in the Supply Chain area. Advanced proficiency in Google Suite (Sheets, Slides and Docs). Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills. Demonstrated strong verbal, written and presentation communication skills. Compensation and Benefits Salary Range: $121,000.00 - $137,000.00 USD Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit‑sharing, and long‑term incentives for Executive‑level roles. Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies. Our Commitment to Inclusion Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business. Equal Opportunity Employer Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation. Work Visa Sponsorship Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full‑time basis and must not require the Company's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States. #J-18808-Ljbffr Colgate