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About this position

The Purchasing Manager (Raw Material) is responsible for leading procurement initiatives, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring effective sourcing and purchasing strategies to support the organization's operational needs.

Responsibilities

• Project Leadership: manage and align internal and external supplier team members for the successful execution of procurement initiatives.
• Analyze supplier proposals, negotiate and close orders and contracts and provides recommendations to management.
• Ensure sourcing requirements are fully reflected in the purchase orders and proper implementation of contracts.
• Manages related incoming stock management and reduction in supplier lead times.
• Weekly reviews of material requirements planning to prepare for optimal for requisitions and related stock management.
• Manages all documentation for effective and efficient supplier evaluation, execution of purchase requests, ordering, contracting and logistics activities related to importing products.
• Maintains accurate data in relevant business systems.
• Make medium term forecasts to support proper financial planning and forecasting.
• Aligns purchase orders with planning, production and sales.
• Advises planning, production and finance in case of issues and delays and proactively proposes and implements solutions. Successfully troubleshoots most supply bottlenecks and delays independently.
• Gains insights with regard to relevant supply markets and market developments as a basis for new supplier selection and supplier management.
• Actively compares quality performance and quotations for cost price analyses, negotiations, closing deals and supplier selection;
• Recommends cost saving proposals, including alternative sourcing and vendor evaluation criteria.
• Analytics and Reporting: Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the success of sourcing and purchasing efforts. Use data insights to make informed decisions and adjustments to purchasing plans.

Requirements

• Comfortable in negotiations with a strong commercial drive and mindset.
• Experience working in an international environment.
• Min. 5-10 years international experience building and improving supplier relationships.
• Excellent communication skills. Fluency in English both oral and written.
• Completed at least a Bachelor's degree in (international) business, food, nutrition, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• High-energy mentality: Embrace a fast-paced, agile work environment typical of a start-up/scale-up business, where adaptability, creativity, results driven, ownership and a willingness to take calculated risks are valued.
• Proven experience in purchasing, preferably in a high-growth environment.
• Good project team management skills and ability to cooperate with more technically driven functions like Innovation, Quality and Production.

Benefits