Global Category Manager

develop; Twickenham; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Substantial benefits package

Hybrid working

Travel to suppliers/factories

West London

Job summary

develop is seeking a Global Category Head for Soft Commodities to own the global strategy and supplier relationships in a highly autonomous role. You will influence regional teams, work with R&D, Operations and Finance, and drive cost savings and sustainability initiatives across a major commodity book.

The role offers significant travel to suppliers and factories, with a hybrid work pattern (3 days in the office, 2 from home) based in West London and surrounding areas.

Qualifications

• Experience in global soft commodities procurement.
• Strong category management and strategic sourcing skills.
• Excellent stakeholder influence and communication.

Responsibilities

• Own the global category strategy across soft commodities.
• Develop and execute 2–3 year sourcing plans.
• Monitor markets, pricing dynamics and supply risks.
• Lead supplier negotiations and framework agreements.
• Drive productivity, cost savings and value creation.
• Support hedging and commodity coverage strategies.
• Drive sustainability initiatives across CO2, deforestation and responsible sourcing.
• Improve working capital and cash flow, influence regional teams.

Job description

Global Category Head – Soft Commodities | FMCG

A global food and FMCG business is looking for an experienced procurement leader to take ownership of a high-value global soft commodities category.

This is a genuinely global role with the opportunity to shape the category strategy, influence regional procurement teams and build long-term relationships with some of the organisation’s most strategic suppliers.

The role is moving from a centre-led to a fully centralised operating model, meaning the successful candidate will have clear global accountability and significant autonomy to drive the category forward.

What you’ll be responsible for:

• Owning the global category strategy across a significant soft commodities spend
• Developing and executing 2–3 year sourcing and procurement strategies
• Monitoring commodity markets, supply/demand fundamentals and pricing dynamics
• Building a clear view on commodity pricing and market movements
• Leading strategic supplier relationships, negotiations and framework agreements
• Driving productivity, cost savings and value creation
• Developing supply continuity and risk mitigation strategies
• Supporting commodity cover and hedging strategies
• Driving sustainability initiatives across CO2, deforestation and responsible sourcing
• Improving working capital and cash flow
• Influencing regional procurement teams to implement global strategies
• Working closely with R&D, Operations, Finance, Engineering and Marketing

What they’re looking for:

The key requirement is strong experience across soft commodities procurement or category management. Sugar experience is welcome, but not essential.

Relevant backgrounds could include:

• Food ingredients
• Other agricultural or soft commodities

The ideal candidate will come from a global or regional procurement environment within FMCG, food manufacturing, food ingredients, consumer goods, agriculture or commodities.

Most importantly, this is a role for someone who can operate autonomously and influence without authority. There are no direct reports, so relationship management, networking and stakeholder influence are absolutely critical.

They’ll need to be commercially and numerically sharp, curious about commodity markets and comfortable getting out to suppliers, factories and regional teams rather than being office-based.

Package:

• Bonus
• Substantial benefits package
• Hybrid working, officially 3 days in the office / 2 from home
• Significant supplier and factory travel, so the role will realistically involve a mixture of office, travel and home working
• West London

This is a great opportunity for an experienced Global Category Manager, Category Head, Commodity Manager, Strategic Sourcing Manager or Senior Procurement professional looking to take full global ownership of a major soft commodities category.

If you have experience in soft commodities procurement and enjoy operating in a highly autonomous, stakeholder-heavy global role, I’d be keen to hear from you.