Category Buyer

Sodexo; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and dynamic work environment

Competitive compensation

Ongoing training and development

Career growth opportunities

Occupational healthcare 24/7

Job summary

Sodexo Finland seeks a commercially driven Category Buyer - Food to join our Supply Management team in Helsinki. You will shape sourcing strategy, develop supplier partnerships, and drive cost efficiencies to support business growth.

The role reports to the Head of Supply Management, Finland, and collaborates with global teams. Requires 4–5 years in strategic sourcing, a business degree, and fluency in Finnish and English.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in business, SCM, procurement, economics, food sciences or related.
• 4–5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management or procurement.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple initiatives.
• Strong presentation skills, both spoken and written.
• Demonstrated negotiation skills and experience managing supplier contracts.
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen with data-driven decisions.
• Fluency in Finnish and English, both written and spoken.
• Advanced IT skills including Excel and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned food categories and develop category strategies that support business objectives.
• Lead strategic sourcing projects, including supplier selection, tendering, negotiations, and contract management.
• Drive cost savings, efficiency improvements, and commercial competitiveness while ensuring quality and supply continuity.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and key internal stakeholders.
• Develop strategic supplier partnerships that foster innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor market trends, supplier performance, and category developments to identify risks and opportunities.
• Ensure successful supplier implementation, contract compliance, and value realization across the organization.
• Collaborate with global procurement teams and support business development projects with category expertise and commercial insights.
• Maintain procurement data, contracts, reporting, and relevant administrative processes.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Supplier negotiations

Project management

Analytical skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Finnish language

English language

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Economics, Food Sciences

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

As our business continues to grow, so does the importance of strategic procurement. We are looking for a commercially driven Category Buyer - Food to join our Supply Management team and play a key role in shaping our sourcing strategy, developing strong supplier partnerships, and driving sustainable business value. In this role, you will combine market insight, strong commercial understanding, and stakeholder collaboration to deliver cost efficiencies and support business growth.

You report to the Head of Supply Management, Finland, and cooperate with the global/regional supply management teams.

Join Sodexo and be part of something greater! You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way!

Your main responsibilities

• Manage assigned food categories and develop category strategies that support business objectives.
• Lead strategic sourcing projects, including supplier selection, tendering, negotiations, and contract management.
• Drive cost savings, efficiency improvements, and commercial competitiveness while ensuring quality and supply continuity.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and key internal stakeholders.
• Develop strategic supplier partnerships that foster innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor market trends, supplier performance, and category developments to identify risks and opportunities.
• Ensure successful supplier implementation, contract compliance, and value realization across the organization.
• Collaborate with global procurement teams and support business development projects with category expertise and commercial insights.
• Maintain procurement data, contracts, reporting, and relevant administrative processes.

To succeed in this role, you need

• Bachelor's or master’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Economics, Food Sciences, or a related field.
• Proven experience (4-5 years) in strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Strong presentation skills, both spoken and written
• Strong personal drive and initiative, thoroughness and comprehensibility
• Demonstrated negotiation skills and experience managing supplier contracts.
• Strong analytical and commercial acumen with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Fluency in Finnish and English, both written and spoken.
• Advanced IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications (especially Excel and PowerPoint).

I

n this role, you will succeed if you bring solid experience preferably from the food industry and a strong track record in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and contract negotiations. You have a commercial mindset, understand market dynamics, and can identify opportunities that create value for the business.

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong to a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way.

In addition, we offer:

• Flexible and dynamic work environment
• Competitive compensation
• Access to ongoing training and development programs
• Countless opportunities to grow within the company
• Access to occupational healthcare services 24/7

Read more about Sodexo’s employee benefits program Vita by Sodexo and values

This is a permanent full-time position, with a work schedule of 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Salary is negotiable based on experience and expertise. The preferred start date is December 2026

For more detailed information, please contact Hanna Savin, Head of Supply Management Finland, tel. [phone], [e-mail]. Hanna is available for inquiries on 1 October from 12:00 to 13:00 and 13 October from 12:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 17:00.

About Sodexo

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 43 countries, serving over 80 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.