Global Category Manager (Interim)

SARIA Food & Pharma; Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Free onsite parking

Collaborative environment

Job summary

SARIA Food & Pharma is seeking a temporary Global Category Manager to professionalise procurement for Logistics, leading two global sourcing projects in road transport and warehousing. You will report to the Head of Procurement Food and Pharma and collaborate with managers across continents to drive value.

The 8-month fixed-term contract starts November 2026, with a hybrid work model after training. You will influence supplier agreements, improve cost efficiency and strengthen category

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant field; professional qualification (CIPS/NEVI) desirable.
• Experience in strategic category management across multiple countries.
• Ability to lead remote, matrix-managed teams; strong negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead two global sourcing initiatives in road transport and warehousing with global scope.
• Ensure initiatives deliver competitive conditions across business units.
• Monitor sub-categories and drive continuous improvement in procurement.
• Motivate and coach remote teams and stakeholders; build category expertise.
• Provide deep knowledge of suppliers, markets and cost drivers; supplier relationship mgmt.

Skills

Strategic category management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Remote team leadership

Sourcing strategy

Education

CIPS or NEVI qualification

Job description

At SARIA Food & Pharma, our activities are characterized by connected value chains, decades of shared market expertise and a unifying spirit of innovation to continuously develop our people and our products.

Van Hessen, Devro and Bioiberica use animal raw materials to create their wide range of products, which are ubiquitous and universal, but anything but ordinary. With a complementary portfolio of casings for the sausage industry that includes natural and collagen-based casings, Devro and Van Hessen are leading product experts in their industry. The global life science company Bioiberica produces active ingredients for humans, animals and plants, from starting material it receives from Van Hessen.

We create the added layer of value with our products and services, improve the well-being of all by taking life science further and combine our attention to detail with the extraordinary, because it all matters.

About the role:

We are looking for temporary support to help us with the further professionalisation of Global Category Management for the category Logistics where you in addition to the day to day management of the category will gain the responsibility for two global sourcing projects related to road transport (FTL and LTL) and warehousing for our global business.

Reporting directly to the Head of Procurement Food and Pharma, you will collaborate closely with other Global Category Managers and the Procurement Managers from other business units that are divided over 5 different continents, leveraging each other's strengths to drive collective success.

THIS IS A FIXED TERM CONTRACT OPPORTUNITY STARTING IN November 2026 FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS.

Responsibilities

• Lead two global sourcing initiatives in road transport and warehousing, ensuring that project outcomes are fully integrated into the category management strategy and successfully implemented across all relevant business units.
• Ensure that these initiatives deliver the most competitive commercial and operational conditions with suppliers, while driving full adoption and utilization of these agreed conditions across the relevant business units.
• Monitoring and managing the sub-categories
• Road bulk EU
• Motivate and coach local teams and stakeholders, driving a culture of positivity through continuous improvement, solid negotiation capabilities, supplier relations management and development of Procurement team category knowledge
• Provide a thorough understanding of the supplier, their suppliers, the market dynamics, fundamentals and drivers
• Accountable for ongoing supplier relationship management within your category, including expectation setting, monitoring, review, continuous improvement and influence supplier investment, technology development and use of supplier resources to directly benefit SARIA Food & Pharma in innovation and cost savings

About you:

• Degree qualified in an appropriate field, complimented by a postgraduate or professional qualification such as CIPS or NEVI would be desirable
• Demonstrable experience of strategic category management within your responsible category and across multiple countries is advantageous
• Ability to lead, motivate and develop teams that are remote, and matrix managed
• Strong communication and stakeholder management, with significant influencing and negotiation skills
• Direct and indirect procurement knowledge and experience, including sourcing strategy, supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, contract implementation and compliance management

What can we offer?

• A competitive salary and benefits package
• Hybrid working opportunity in line with our policy once fully trained in the role
• Free onsite car parking
• A friendly, supportive and collaborative working environment

At SARIA Food and Pharma our cultural principles aren't just words- they guide how we work every day and how we deliver success together.

We Act Like Owners

We Care Because It Counts

We Push for Progress

We Are Even Better Together

We are looking for someone who:

• Takes real ownership in their role.
• Cares about doing things the right way.
• Looks for ways to improve and work smarter.
• Brings people together to meet our business goals.

Equality and diversity at SARIA Food & Pharma:

We value diversity and are committed to an inclusive working environment in which all employees are respected and supported regardless of gender, age, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or social background. We expressly welcome applications from people with a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Our goal is to ensure equal opportunities and actively combat discrimination - both in the application process and in everyday working life.