International Category Manager (Associate experience) - (M/F/X)

HelloFresh; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

HelloFresh box discounts

Global, diverse team

Paris office in center

Job summary

HelloFresh is seeking an International Category Manager to join the European Strategic Sourcing Team. Based in Paris or Berlin, you will shape category strategies across markets, own supplier negotiations, and drive cost savings while collaborating with local and global stakeholders.

The role offers a dynamic, global environment with opportunities to influence sourcing decisions and mentor junior team members.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in business, engineering, supply chain, finance, or science.
• At least 3 years in strategic procurement or production, preferably in the food or food-packaging industry or as a management consultant with operations focus.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with initiative, independence, and implementation drive.
• Strong communication and ability to work in flexible global teams.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with cross-functional project delivery.
• Comfortable contributing to and managing projects with new processes, SLAs and KPIs.
• Strong at devising creative solutions to supply issues and action plan execution.
• Proven track record of negotiations with external partners.
• Excellent quantitative and analytical skills.
• Fluent English; another European language is a plus.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Shape category strategy across European markets, aligned with business objectives and supply chain needs.
• Own supplier relationships and lead negotiations to secure best terms with stakeholders.
• Identify and deliver cost reductions by leveraging volumes and improving processes.
• Develop cost models, run make-or-buy analyses, monitor commodity prices.
• Forecast future cost pricing using data, industry knowledge and AI tools.
• Lead projects and mentor junior team members, while coordinating cross-functional teams.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Negotiation

Cross-border collaboration

Project management

Analytical skills

English proficiency

Travel willingness

Entrepreneurial mindset

Communication skills

Global teamwork

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree

Tools

Generative AI tools

Cost modelling

Job description

The Role : What’s in the Box

We are looking for a talented Category Manager to become part of our European Strategic Sourcing Team. Your role will involve contributing to the development and implementation of category strategies spanning multiple markets across Europe.

The Role : What’s in the Box

We are looking for a talented Category Manager to become part of our European Strategic Sourcing Team. Your role will involve contributing to the development and implementation of category strategies spanning multiple markets across Europe. As an International Category Manager, you will collaborate closely with both local and global stakeholders and help ensure we source high-quality ingredients and packaging at the best costs. This position can be based in Paris or Berlin and we have openings across several categories, including Protein; Produce, Herbs and Fruits; Grocery & Dairy; and Packaging. You will be able to tell us which categories interest you most in your application, and we will match you to the best fit. Above all, we are looking for people who will make HelloFresh better. We believe there are many different ways of developing skills and we love diverse experiences! So even if you don't "tick all the boxes" but think you'd thrive in this role, we would like to learn more about you.

What You'll Do : The Recipe

• Shape the category strategy: Help build and roll out category strategies across European markets, aligned with our business objectives and supply chain needs, working hand in hand with senior team members.
• Own supplier relationships and negotiations: Manage key supplier relationships across markets and lead negotiations within your scope to secure the best possible terms, working independently and constructively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Drive savings: Identify and deliver cost reduction opportunities by leveraging volumes and improving processes across markets.
• Build the numbers behind every decision: Develop robust cost models, run make-or-buy analyses and monitor key commodity prices, so we pay fair prices and make well-informed sourcing decisions.
• Stay ahead of the market: Forecast future cost pricing using data, industry knowledge and Generative AI tools, track market trends, regulatory changes and emerging technologies, and challenge the status quo with ideas to improve our processes.
• Lead projects and grow others: Drive short-term procurement projects, support long-term initiatives with cross-functional teams, solve non-routine topics autonomously (aligning regularly with your manager on priorities), and mentor junior team members, interns and working students.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's or master's degree from a top-tier college or university, preferably in business, engineering, supply chain, finance, or science.
• Minimum of 3 years of strategic procurement or production experience, preferably in the food or food-packaging industry, or alternatively as a management consultant with a focus on operations.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to take initiative, work independently, and drive implementation.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work successfully in flexible team structures around the world.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with a track record of successfully implementing cross-functional projects.
• Capability to excel in flexible global team structures amid a reasonable degree of uncertainty.
• Comfortable contributing to and managing projects, including developing new processes, SLAs, and KPIs.
• Strong at devising creative solutions to supply issues, as well as designing, communicating, and executing action plans for effective resolution.
• Convincing track record of successful negotiations with external partners.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Excellent English proficiency is required, another European language is a plus.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 25% of the time.

What we offer: The Toppings

• The chance to have a serious impact role on one of the most exciting foodtech companies in Europe
• A vibrant & international environment with a great culture & DNA
• A guaranteed steep learning curve and boost for your career
• A passionate, proactive, driven and dynamic French team
• Offices located in the center of Paris (Paris 1er)
• Competitive compensation
• Delicious reductions on our HelloFresh boxes
• Top tier employee experience and employees perks (Alan Blue insurance, Swile (tickets restaurant), GymLib, reductions on transport)