Category Manager - Indirect Spend

Westfalia Fruit Group; Ware; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Westfalia Fruit Group seeks a Procurement Manager with expertise in category management within the food sector, particularly avocados. This hybrid role involves strategic sourcing and collaboration across Europe. Successful candidates will drive category growth while maintaining supplier relationships and ensuring alignment with business objectives.

Benefits

25 days holiday, plus bank holidays

Life Insurance

Private medical insurance

Company pension plan

Medicash plan

Discretionary bonus

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic sourcing within the food industry.
• Fluency in English with strong cross-cultural communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and lead cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the category vision for avocado and value-added products.
• Translate category insights into actionable recommendations.
• Present category strategies and business reviews to customers.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical Skills

Project Management

Education

MBA or Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) certification

Tools

MS Dynamics 365

Job description

Come and join the leading #avoexperts

Westfalia Fruit is a leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related value-added products to global markets. Through our vertically-integrated supply chain we grow, source, ripen, pack, process and market quality avocadoes & fresh produce – 365 days a year & across the globe.

With the largest avocado-growing footprint in the world, we are recognised as the leading #avoexperts and considered as the supplier of choice to both retail & wholesale customers whom we serve from sales offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America & Southern Africa.

We have a new opportunity for a Procurement Manager to work specifically within one of the following three categories; Packaging, MRO, and Indirect. The role will be based out of our Kings Hill or Spalding office in the UK on a hybrid basis, but travel across Europe will be required.

As Procurement Category Manager, you'll play a central role within one of three categories in including Indirect, Packaging or MPO. You will be pivotal in driving category growth and enhancing product performance. You'll work closely with key customers to develop and implement innovative strategies that support our ambitious growth plans, whilst becoming a subject matter expert on all products within your category. As a trusted business partner, your expertise will be essential in supporting Westfalia Fruit's commercial growth objectives in 2025 and beyond. Domestic and international travel will be required to support customer and business operations across Europe, so a willingness to travel is essential.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and lead the category vision for the avocado and value-added product lines across key European growth markets.

• Lead the development of the short and long-term category agenda in alignment with Westfalia’s growth plans, ensuring its execution with customers.

• Translate category insights into actionable recommendations for customers, helping drive category growth through assortment optimisation, shelving strategies, and promotional effectiveness.

• Present category strategies and business reviews to customers, demonstrating growth possibilities for both the category and Westfalia products.

• Work closely with internal teams to ensure the alignment of category initiatives with overall business objectives.

• Lead the category development agenda for innovation projects, working with cross-functional teams to introduce new products and improve category offerings.

• Set the agenda for category growth, ensuring the flawless execution of category projects in collaboration with sales and commercial teams.

• Develop customer-specific planograms and assortment strategies, working closely with space management teams.

Essential Experience, Qualifications & Skills:

• Proven experience within specific categories of spend, strategic sourcing within a corporate or multinational environment. Exposure within the food industry is essential, with fresh produce experience highly advantageous.

• Fluency in English with strong cross-cultural communication skills.

• Strong negotiation skills with a proven track record of supplier relationship management and cost optimisation.

• Advanced analytical and project management abilities, including strategic planning and risk assessment.

• Ability to work independently and lead cross-functional teams across multiple geographies.

Desirable Experience, Qualifications & Skills:

• Fluency in French is highly desirable
• MBA or Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) certification.

• Previous experience in fresh produce, food, or FMCG sectors.

• Familiarity with MS Dynamics 365 or other ERP systems.

• Proficiency in additional European languages specifically as Spanish, German, Dutch or Portuguese.

• Strong understanding of sustainable sourcing, innovation pipelines, and supply market dynamics.

• Hybrid working (3/4 days on-site and 1/2 day working from home).
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays.
• Life Insurance.
• Private medical insurance.
• Company pension plan.
• Medicash plan.
• Discretionary bonus.

Please note that this position does not have a specific closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and the advert may be removed at any time.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity or disability status.