Senior Category Manager - Indirect Spend

Westfalia Fruit; Tonbridge and Malling; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a global leader in fresh produce as a Senior Category Manager - Indirect Spend. In this vital role, you will develop and implement procurement strategies across Europe, ensuring alignment with group objectives while driving performance and profitability. The position demands proven expertise in strategic procurement, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders. With a competitive compensation package and a commitment to sustainability and innovation, Westfalia Fruit offers a compelling opportunity for career growth.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Sustainable and innovative company culture

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic procurement or category management.
• Demonstrated success in cross-functional sourcing initiatives.
• Fluency in English (C1 level or above) required.

Responsibilities

• Lead Europe-wide category strategies for procurement excellence.
• Drive procurement governance and standardise policies.
• Manage regional supplier performance with KPIs and SLAs.

Skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Education

MBA or professional procurement qualification

Tools

ERP systems

BI tools

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 Senior Category Manager - Indirect Spend to join our growth across Europe.

The Senior Category Purchasing Manager will lead the development and execution of Westfalia Europe’s overarching category strategy across all “non fruit” procurement categories. This high-impact role is responsible for driving performance, standardising best practices, and improving profitability through strategic sourcing, supplier development, and collaboration with commercial, technical, and operations teams across Europe. Acting as a regional procurement leader, the postholder will influence decision-making at the executive level and play a critical role in shaping the future of procurement for Westfalia.

We are open to the successful candidate being based within a commutable distance to one of our offices in either the UK, France, or the Netherlands.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading Europe-wide category strategies aligned with group objectives, market intelligence, and segmentation to drive regional procurement excellence.
• Develop cross-functional sourcing strategies with measurable outcomes, including cost savings, innovation, and risk mitigation.
• Own a key supply category, ensuring strategic direction, supplier alignment, and long-term value delivery.
• Drive procurement governance by standardising policies, building capabilities across teams, and embedding best practices regionally.
• Champion continuous improvement, using performance tracking and post-initiative reviews to refine procurement impact.
• Act as a senior business partner to commercial, technical, supply chain, and quality teams across Europe, ensuring strategic alignment.
• Influence executive leadership by presenting strategies and procurement results that shape long-term business planning.
• Manage regional supplier performance, implementing KPIs, SLAs, and risk mitigation through robust contracts and multi-sourcing.
• Deliver cost control and value creation through expert negotiation, category roadmaps, and strategic supplier collaboration.
• Lead data-driven decision-making, developing dashboards, spend analytics, and forecasts that link procurement to business performance.

Essential

• Proven experience in strategic procurement or category management, preferably in a pan-European or global role.

• Demonstratable success in leading cross-functional sourcing initiatives and managing complex supplier negotiations.
• Fluency in English is mandatory (C1 level or above) with strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to implement governance frameworks, influence senior stakeholders, and drive regional alignment.

• Strong analytical skills and experience using procurement systems (e.g., ERP, SRM, BI tools).

• Strategic thinker with the ability to operate at both operational and executive levels.

• Experience developing supplier partnerships and managing risk in dynamic sourcing environments.

Desirable

• Industry knowledge in FMCG, fresh produce, agribusiness, or food manufacturing.

• MBA or professional procurement qualification (e.g., CIPS, ISM, or equivalent).

• Working knowledge of MS Dynamics 365 or similar ERP platforms.
• Proficiency in additional European languages highly advantageous, including French, Spanish, German, Dutch and Portuguese.
• Experience implementing digital procurement tools and supporting business transformation projects.

What can Westfalia Fruit offer you?

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package that will vary by location. Full details will be shared as part of the interview process

• Enjoy a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Be part of a global organisation recognised as a leader in fresh produce.
• Join a purpose-driven company committed to sustainability and innovation.
• Contribute to an industry leader at the forefront of fresh produce innovation.
• Benefits package will depend on location and can be discussed at intro stage.

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.