Strategic Category Manager, FMCG Packaging

Sigma Search; Sydney; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sigma Search is helping a leading Australian FMCG group appoint a Procurement Category Manager for Packaging & Finished Goods. You will own category strategy, drive commercial negotiations, and manage ~30 contract manufacturers across China, Thailand and NZ, ensuring value and resilience.

Partner with R&D, Marketing, Quality, Supply Chain and Finance, lead supplier performance, risk management and NPD support, and travel internationally to visit suppliers.

Qualifications

• Strategic sourcing or category management experience within FMCG, food & beverage, consumer goods or contract manufacturing.
• Proven track record negotiating finished goods and/or packaging supply agreements.
• Hands-on overseas sourcing experience, ideally with suppliers in China and/or South East Asia.
• The commercial confidence and gravitas to hold your own with experienced, long-tenured suppliers.
• Strong grasp of Incoterms, landed cost drivers and currency considerations.
• Experience supporting NPD and working alongside technical, marketing and operations teams.
• Ability to influence cross-functionally without direct authority.
• Willing to travel internationally to visit suppliers in Asia.
• Tertiary qualification in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies for externally manufactured finished products and packaging
• Lead pricing, terms and contract negotiations, formalising agreements with long-standing strategic suppliers
• Build total landed cost models and deliver savings, cost avoidance and value against budget and forecast
• Assess and mitigate supplier, country and geopolitical risk, balancing cost against supply resilience across multiple sourcing regions
• Identify, assess and onboard new manufacturers and packaging suppliers to support growth and innovation
• Partner with R&D and Marketing on New Product Development (NPD), aligning supplier capacity, lead times and costs to launch milestones
• Run structured supplier performance reviews, joint business plans and corrective action plans
• Work with Sales and Supply Chain on forecasting and continuous improvement
• Ensure suppliers meet ethical sourcing, quality and regulatory requirements

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Negotiation

Overseas sourcing

Incoterms

Landed cost

NPD support

Cross-functional influence

Travel internationally

Procurement

Education

Tertiary qualification in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business or related discipline

Job description

Sigma Search is helping a leading Australian FMCG group appoint a Procurement Category Manager for Packaging & Finished Goods. You will own category strategy, drive commercial negotiations, and manage ~30 contract manufacturers across China, Thailand and NZ, ensuring value and resilience.

Partner with R&D, Marketing, Quality, Supply Chain and Finance, lead supplier performance, risk management and NPD support, and travel internationally to visit suppliers.