Procurement Category Manager - CAPEX - Arla Head Office, Leeds

Arla Foods Deutschland GmbH; Leeds; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading dairy company's Procurement team as a Procurement Category Manager focused on CAPEX. This role involves strategic sourcing, supplier management, and collaboration across global teams, ensuring impactful CAPEX investments for the company's production sites. Candidates should have significant experience in procurement and strong stakeholder management skills, along with an engineering background.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years strategic procurement experience.
• Experience in project management within procurement, dairy, construction, or engineering.
• Fluency in English is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize CAPEX categories and supplier interactions.
• Analyze proposals for best value and total cost of ownership.
• Draft and finalize contracts.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Leadership

Education

Relevant engineering degree

Job description

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Procurement Category Manager - CAPEX - Arla Head Office, Leeds

Location: Leeds, GB

Procurement Category Manager – CAPEX

LS10 1AB

Can you combine a solid commercial understanding with a dairy engineering and technology interest? Are you looking for a job with global responsibility and high impact?

If so, this is your opportunity to join Arla’s Procurement team, be part of an exciting transformation journey, and create value for our dairies worldwide. Your job location will be our office in Leeds, reporting to the Procurement Senior Manager.

“You will join a global team spread across Denmark, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, UK, Poland, Bahrain, Riyadh, and Hong Kong. Here, you will be part of the Procurement team responsible for sourcing Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) projects for Arla’s approximately 60 production sites. We are currently a team of six professionals and are looking forward to welcoming our new colleague. Our team buys a broad range of investments for Arla globally, from a new milk filling line to a complete building, with exciting investments ahead of us,” says Tevfik Ektas, the hiring manager.

How will you make an impact?

As our new Procurement Category Manager, you will work closely with global procurement colleagues, engineering & technology, project management teams, and business stakeholders to:

• Develop and optimize one of Arla’s six CAPEX categories, setting strategic direction and defining activities to improve competition, quality, and total cost, in collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Serve as the commercial lead in CAPEX projects, coordinate supplier interactions, and develop RFQs/RFPs to select suppliers across categories and countries. Deliverables include:
• Analyzing proposals for best value and total cost of ownership, making recommendations, and providing commercial guidance.
• Negotiating quality, time, cost, and other commercial terms.
• Drafting contracts and leading contract finalization, liaising with suppliers and Legal teams.
• Supporting change orders.
• Acting as the procurement business partner for CAPEX projects, ensuring timely procurement involvement, deploying strategies, managing supplier relationships, and supporting commercial tasks.

The role involves frequent travel due to collaboration with multiple production sites, procurement colleagues, and suppliers.

What will make you successful?

• At least 5 years of strategic procurement experience, preferably with a relevant engineering degree. Experience in project management within procurement, dairy, construction, or engineering is preferred. Dairy technology and civils procurement experience is a plus.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, ability to build cross-cultural relationships, and adaptable communication skills across all levels. Business-oriented mindset and collaboration skills to engage senior stakeholders and add value.
• Self-driven, proactive, able to work independently and in teams, demonstrating leadership, problem-solving, and a proactive approach in a global environment. Fluency in English is essential.

Personal qualities are crucial, as this role is key to accelerating CAPEX procurement transformation.

Application and contact

Please apply promptly; applications are reviewed continuously until the right candidate is found. For more information, contact Procurement Senior Manager Tevfik Ektas at [e-mail].

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to high-quality products, sustainability, and innovation. We value people and our planet, aiming to make healthy dairy nutrition accessible to all. Join Arla Foods and help us make a significant impact on the planet and lead the dairy industry toward sustainability.

We foster a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to bring their authentic selves. Diversity and collaboration drive our success and help us reach new heights in the dairy industry.