Buyer & Seller - Manager

ManpowerGroup Middle East; Dubai; On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a highly skilled global buyer & seller trading expert specializing in IQF fruits, freeze-dried products, and groceries. The ideal candidate will manage trading processes, supplier relationships, and ensure compliance with industry standards. This role requires extensive experience in global trading and strategic negotiation skills, along with the ability to navigate complex supply chains effectively.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in global trading of food categories.
• In-depth knowledge of international trade regulations.
• Ability to travel internationally as required.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end trading process and supplier relationships.
• Conduct market research and analysis for informed decision-making.
• Optimize supply chain for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical Skills

Strategic Thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or supply chain management

MBA

Job description

Our client is looking for a highly skilled and experienced global buyer & seller trading expert specializing in the categories of:

Premium IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) fruits & vegetables, freeze-dried fruits & vegetables, food ingredients, groceries and staples, ready-to-cook, and ready-to-eat products and other relevant food & beverage categories.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing the end-to-end trading process, establishing strong relationships with suppliers and buyers/customers globally, and ensuring the procurement and delivery of high-quality products for both trading and managing in-house brands and private-label offerings for the global market.

Job Purpose:

• Sourcing & negotiation | Demand creation & supply – Develop, analyze, and secure negotiated commercial agreements that will establish cost competitiveness and a reliable service level within our supply chain.
• Market trends & consumer trends awareness – Gather knowledge and understanding of market trends and events to provide visibility and to protect the cost and continuity of supply of our product categories.
• Categories management – Work in conjunction with the business vertical head to create category plans and formulate appropriate strategies that align with corporate business goals and optimize effectiveness.

Job Responsibilities:

Market research and analysis:

• Conduct thorough market research to identify global trends, pricing structures, and potential suppliers and buyers.
• Analyze market dynamics, including supply and demand factors, to make informed purchasing and selling decisions.
• Create and present category plans and strategies to internal and external business stakeholders.

Supplier relationship management:

• Identify, assess, and establish relationships with key suppliers of premium IQF fruits & vegetables, freeze-dried products, food ingredients, groceries, and other evolving categories.
• Negotiate favorable terms and conditions with suppliers and customers to ensure cost-effectiveness and high-quality product sourcing.
• Constantly seek out and develop alternate or dual vendors to guarantee the best possible procurement efficiencies and establish robust risk mitigation protocols.
• Product procurement: Oversee the procurement process, including sourcing, negotiating contracts, and ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery of products.
• Work closely with suppliers and customers to maintain consistent product quality and compliance with industry standards and country-specific food regulations and documentation.
• Manage legal contracts, and price, volume, and stock agreements.
• Analyze and define sourcing category strategies and report milestone objectives advancements.
• Maintain vendor and customer pricing item catalogues up to date and provide maximum visibility to the business on forecasted costing via timely and accurate forecast updates.
• Regular discussions with marketing and finance teams on possible future impact on price increases on raw material, packaging material, and traded goods for proper contingency plans for gross contribution and net contribution calculations.

Sales and distribution:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with global buyers, retailers, and distributors.
• Collaborate with the sales and marketing teams to understand market demands and strategize for effective product distribution.

Quality assurance and compliance:

• Implement and maintain rigorous quality control measures for all products, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and standards working closely with our QA & QC team.
• Work closely with suppliers to address quality issues and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Familiar with customer complaints processes and redressals and expertise in product recall protocols.
• Support vendor audits and vendor authorization.

Supply chain optimization:

• Optimize the supply chain for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and timely delivery.
• Collaborate with logistics and distribution teams to streamline the transportation and storage of goods.
• Identify and streamline operations to improve productivity and reduce lead times as defined by SOP.
• Design and develop systems to track and rectify variations or deviations from planned course of action.

Risk management:

• Identify and mitigate potential risks in the supply chain, such as market fluctuations, geopolitical factors, weather influences, and supplier-related issues.
• Develop contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges and disruptions.
• Support finance to achieve payment agreements as contracted with vendors and customers.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, or a related field. MBA is a plus.
• Proven experience of 15 years or more in global trading of IQF fruits & vegetables, freeze-dried products, groceries & staples, and related food categories.
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills to contribute to business plans and execution strategies meeting and exceeding revenue targets.
• Well-established buyer and seller network of global standards for early-stage revenue generation and growing business opportunities.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills with high integrity following the values and ethos of the organization; clearly using all mediums, locally, regionally, and globally.
• In-depth knowledge of international trade regulations and compliance.
• Ability to travel internationally as required.
• Familiarity with regulatory and documentation requirements for various countries in relation to food safety and quality standards.