Senior Category Manager - Indirect Spend

Westfalia Fruit Group; Ware, Spalding; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit is seeking a Senior Procurement Manager to refine their procurement strategies. The role encompasses overseeing non-fruit procurement categories across Europe, influencing executive decisions, and driving continuous improvement through strategic partnerships and performance management. This hybrid position requires extensive experience in procurement and offers substantial opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Life Insurance

Private medical insurance

Company pension plan

Medicash plan

Discretionary bonus

Qualifications

• 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 (C1 level) with strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading Europe-wide category strategies aligned with group objectives to enhance procurement excellence.
• Drive procurement governance by standardising policies and building capabilities across teams.
• Deliver cost control and value creation through expert negotiation and strategic supplier collaboration.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

MBA

Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM)

Tools

ERP

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 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.

The Procurement Category 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.

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

• 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.