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This position has closed. Kraft Heinz removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 5, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Associate Director, Supply Chain Development - Hydration

Kraft Heinz · Chicago, IL · $164,200–$205,200 a year · Full time

Posted Jul 9, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a capital project you led that went over budget or late. How did you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they manage cost and timeline issues openly and escalate early with options.

Tell me about leading a team across manufacturing, R&D, planning and engineering.

What they are checking: Whether they can align technical teams around commercialization goals without direct authority.

Tell me about a time you had to escalate an issue to senior leaders. How did you frame it?

What they are checking: Whether they escalate with a clear fact base, options and recommendation rather than just a problem.

What would you do

The business wants to launch a new product, but the plant has no spare capacity. What options would you bring?

What they are checking: Whether they can develop alternatives like co-manufacturing, line changes or capital, with tradeoffs.

A project sponsor wants a launch date your team says is unrealistic. What do you say?

What they are checking: Whether they can present facts, options and a clear recommendation even when it disappoints a sponsor.

How would you find savings projects that improve the bottom line across the Hydration platform?

What they are checking: Whether they can spot productivity opportunities in formulas, packaging, process and network.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd scope a new Hydration product opportunity from a supply chain point of view.

What they are checking: Whether they can assess capacity, cost, quality and route to market early and clearly.

How do you build a business case for a large capital investment?

What they are checking: Whether they understand payback, NPV, risks and assumptions for capital projects over 40 million dollars.

How does a new product affect cost of goods sold, DIOH and manufacturing efficiency?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how innovation ripples through supply chain metrics, as the posting describes.

How do you plan and manage plant trials for new products?

What they are checking: Whether they understand trial planning, cost, scheduling and how to learn quickly from results.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Kraft Heinz from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Kraft Heinz.

Job Description Responsibilities: • Lead commercialization effort for scoping new business opportunities across the Hydration Platform in the HDM business unit. Ensure effective team engagement with the manufacturing location, R&D, supply planning, and engineering. • Ability to scope and execute large capital investments to either enable Innovation or drive bottom line savings across the KSB team with annual budget greater than $40 Million . • Ability to execute Innovation projects to enable top line growth for HDM of over $ 100 Million . • Ensure appropriate capacity for new business initiatives and growth plans across product life cycle. Develop and recommend alternatives as needed. Provide updates to project sponsors and stakeholders as needed on key initiatives, including progress against deliverables, cost management, next steps and needs from sponsors to alleviate hurdles. Escalate concerns and issues, report project fact base, define options/trade-offs, and provide team recommendation. • Lead internal feasibility assessment and business case to support business team’s scoping requests; Identify impact across the supply chain with regard to cost of goods sold e.g. route to market, capacity utilization, DIOH, manufacturing efficiency, quality, safety. • Help develop and assess assigned financial targets, to include the delivery of capital requirements, trial activity and start-up expenses. Drive development of preliminary COGS, ensure alignment between category team and operations. Engage and support productivity related scoping projects to deliver cost reduction targets. • Partner with External Manufacturing managers and EM procurement to deliver against scoping activities outside of current Kraft Heinz capabilities. • Support Business and Manufacturing Systems initiatives as required, and support the continuous improvement of the commercialization process through collaboration with key stakeholders and best practice sharing. • Execute major manufacturing cost improvement initiatives through cross functional collaboration and updates to senior leaders via KHBM. • Lead and/or participation in various stakeholder governance forums (i.e. Stage gate/Leadership teams) • Partner with the Business Units/ Manufacturing/ Supply Chain/ Engineering to develop a 3 year strategic capacity plan. Create innovative solutions to address GAPs/ Constraints. • Provide indirect leadership for the PCM organization and Plant commercialization leads. • Work hand in hand with Supply Chain Losses team to get ahead of potential losses and help drive risk mitigation once it is identified through 30-90 day risk report and 90-180 reports by leveraging cross functional team (Sales/Marketing) to find alternate uses for the product. • Give direction to the Productivity team, specifically for Manufacturing year over year project savings. Requirements: • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Science, Chemistry, or other related field • Minimum of 10 years combined experience in manufacturing, supply chain, engineering or HQ business team experience. • Minimum 5 years’ experience in Project Management for Consumer Products • Minimum 3 years’ experience in Basic Marketing/Finance Principles • Minimum 3 years’ of Plant Manufacturing experience Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values. New Hire Base Salary Range: $164,200.00 - $205,200.00 Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents. The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents. Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families. You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example: • Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments • Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training • Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs • Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability Location(s) Chicago/Aon Center Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact NAZTAOps@kraftheinz.com for assistance.