Junior Buyer (Strategic Sourcing) Ingredients

At The Coca-Cola Company, sourcing the highest-quality ingredients is at the heart of delivering beverages that consumers trust and enjoy every day. As our portfolio and supply chain evolve, the ability to manage ingredient categories with precision and agility is essential to sustaining operational excellence and business growth.

The Junior Buyer (Strategic Sourcing) - Ingredients will play an integral role in supporting the Strategic Sourcing team by handling procurement activities for select ingredient categories, managing supplier relationships, and driving efficiency in day-to-day sourcing operations. This role is ideal for a results-focused individual who combines strong analytical capability with negotiation skills, digital curiosity, and a customer-service mindset.

In this position, you'll partner with senior buyers, supply planning, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure sourcing continuity, compliance, and cost competitiveness while exploring AI and digital solutions to streamline processes and improve insights. Joining our Technical Innovation & Supply Chain organization means becoming part of a forward-thinking team that values collaboration, growth, and innovation.

What You'll Do for Us

Manage procurement activities for small-spend, low-to-medium complexity ingredient categories and ensure timely, accurate order execution

Lead negotiations for assigned ingredients-including pricing, service levels, lead times, and payment terms-while adhering to procurement governance and compliance policies

Prepare and present sourcing plans and category analyses for assigned ingredients, incorporating risk assessment, cost drivers, and supplier improvement opportunities

Support senior buyers during complex negotiations by providing analysis, supplier proposals, and data-driven scenarios

Maintain accurate pricing, supplier data, and other procurement information in sourcing systems and tools

Monitor supply availability and proactively identify risks, escalating issues to stakeholders and recommending mitigation actions

Participate in resolving supplier or quality-related issues in collaboration with plants, planning, and quality teams

Manage and improve day-to-day supplier relationships, including regular performance follow-ups and supporting business reviews

Generate reports and dashboards using Excel and (where possible) Power BI, providing insights into cost performance, inventory, and supplier metrics

Demonstrate initiative in applying AI-enabled tools (where approved) for drafting negotiation briefs, summarizing supplier communications, identifying data anomalies, and improving reporting efficiency

Ensure data integrity and compliance with company policies, including contract documentation, audit readiness, and confidentiality requirements

Collaborate cross-functionally with Finance, R&D, Quality, and Legal to support supplier onboarding, ingredient changes, and documentation needs

Requirements & Qualifications

Associate or Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field

1-3+ years' experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, logistics, or related roles (internships/co-ops considered)

Demonstrated ability to conduct and support negotiations, even for smaller categories or supplier agreements

Strong analytical skills with experience in data interpretation, cost analysis, and problem-solving

High degree of accuracy and attention to detail in data management and reporting activities

Ability to read and interpret commercial contracts, pricing schedules, and supplier compliance requirements

ERP system knowledge (SAP preferred); strong Excel proficiency and familiarity with Power BI or similar tools

Interest in digital transformation and experience with AI-powered tools or process automation is an advantage

Strong communication, stakeholder management, and teamwork skills, with a service-oriented mindset

Positive, proactive attitude and willingness to engage collaboratively to deliver results and solve problems

What We'll Do for You

Provide hands-on experience in strategic sourcing, category ownership, and supplier relationship management with exposure to a global network

Enable professional development in analytics, negotiation, and digital capabilities, including practical applications of AI in procurement workflows

Offer collaborative opportunities across multiple functions, positioning you for a future career path in supply chain leadership, category management, or procurement strategy

Empower you to make meaningful contributions to a sourcing organization evolving toward digital, agile, and insight-led procurement practices

Compliance

Location(s)

Ireland

City/Cities

Ballina

Travel Required

00% - 25%

Relocation Provided

No

Job Posting End Date

September 6, 2026

Our Purpose and Growth Culture

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what's possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves.

We focus on four key behaviors - curious, empowered, inclusive and agile - and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years.

Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.