Global Indirect Materials Director

Caldic; Rotterdam; Hybrid; EUR 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Global career growth

Inclusive, diverse work environment

Impactful, cross-functional role

Job summary

Caldic in Rotterdam seeks a senior leader to design and lead global Indirect Materials, Logistics & Freight Procurement. You will drive category strategy, governance, and sourcing standards across regions, embedding cost and risk controls while enabling regional execution.

The role requires 15+ years in indirect procurement and logistics, proven global freight management, and strong analytics. Bachelor’s in Supply Chain or related field, with advanced certifications (CIPS/ISM/CSCMP) desirable;

Qualifications

• 15+ years in indirect procurement and logistics/transport procurement.
• Proven success managing global freight, 3PL/4PL and warehousing services.
• Strong indirect category strategy experience (MRO, services, packaging).
• Experience driving procurement transformation and governance.
• Strong analytical capability (TCO models, rate structures, freight analytics).

Responsibilities

• Own global indirect category strategies (MRO, packaging, services, utilities).
• Own global logistics & freight strategy (rates, carriers, modal mix, 3PL management).
• Lead indirect and freight tenders, negotiations, and contracting.
• Establish global governance: RFP, negotiation, contracting, DoA compliance.
• Drive cost productivity (TCO, freight optimization, consolidation).
• Build/improve/deploy logistics KPIs: freight cost, OTIF, reliability, carrier performance.
• Lead supplier/carrier segmentation, performance mgmt., and risk frameworks.
• Partner with Operations on network design, freight optimization, cost-to-serve.
• Support Meridian through indirect procurement + logistics governance & tooling.
• Build indirect procurement capability globally.

Skills

Indirect procurement

Logistics/Transport procurement

Global freight management

3PL/4PL management

MRO and packaging strategy

Procurement transformation

Governance & compliance

TCO modelling & freight analytics

Education

Bachelor's in Supply Chain, Engineering or Business

Advanced degree or certifications (CIPS, ISM, CSCMP) desirable

Tools

E-sourcing tools

Freight audit & pay tools

Contract management tools

Job description

Global Indirect Materials Leader

Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands, global travel required

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

About The Role

We are looking for a person to work in our headquarters in Rotterdam, to collaborate with regional teams to design and lead Caldic’s global Indirect Materials, Logistics & Freight Procurement model. This role drives indirect category strategy, cost productivity, logistics excellence, and supplier governance across all regions. Core to Meridian, this role embeds global governance, sourcing standardization, logistics visibility, and cost/risk control while enabling efficient regional execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Own global indirect category strategies (MRO, packaging, services, utilities, facilities)
• Own global logistics & freight strategy (rates, carriers, modal mix, 3PL management)
• Lead indirect and freight tenders, negotiations, and contracting
• Establish global governance: RFP, negotiation, contracting, DoA compliance
• Drive cost productivity (TCO, freight optimization, consolidation)
• Build/improve/deploy logistics KPIs: freight cost, OTIF, reliability, carrier performance
• Lead supplier/carrier segmentation, performance mgmt., and risk frameworks
• Partner with Operations on network design, freight optimization, cost‑to‑serve
• Support Meridian through indirect procurement + logistics governance & tooling
• Build indirect procurement capability globally

Decision rights

• Ownership of global indirect categories and logistics strategies
• Authority over supplier/carrier selection, negotiation parameters, contracting
• Joint accountability for service reliability, freight cost, and indirect spend governance

First 6 months – non‑negotiable deliverables

• Global indirect category strategies launched
• Global freight/logistics baseline + productivity roadmap
• Freight visibility + carrier dashboards live
• Indirect spend transparency + governance model established
• Meridian indirect/logistics blueprint implemented

KPIs (illustrative)

• TCO savings, consolidation benefits

Key interfaces

• Regional Supply Chain & Ops Directors; Logistics/Transport teams
• Commercial & Market Leaders (service, customer delivery)
• Planning (S&OP/S&OE for freight/capacity)
• Quality, EHS, Regulatory (supplier/carrier compliance)
• Transformation Office / Project Meridian

Job Requirements

Required, Education & credentials

• 15+ years in Indirect Procurement + Logistics/Transport procurement
• Proven success managing global freight, 3PL/4PL, warehousing services
• Strong indirect category strategy experience (MRO, services, packaging)
• Experience driving procurement transformation + governance
• Strong analytical capability (TCO models, rate structures, freight analytics)
• Bachelor’s degree required (Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related)
• Advanced degree or certifications (CIPS, ISM, CSCMP) desirable

Preferred

• Exposure to network design, freight modeling, cost‑to‑serve
• Experience with e‑sourcing, freight audit & pay, contract mgmt. tools
• M&A integration of indirect/logistics suppliers

About Caldic

At Caldic, we’re a global leader in distribution solutions, serving diverse markets across the world. Joining us means becoming part of an entrepreneurial, collaborative, and innovation-driven team.

We Offer

• Global opportunities with rapid career growth and development
• An inclusive, diverse, and dynamic work environment
• The chance to shape the future of specialty ingredient solutions across industries like food, pharma, personal care, and more

We operate in 43 countries around the world. Our innovative solutions are tailored to meet the needs of industries such as food, pharma, personal care, and industrial markets, ensuring sustainable success for all stakeholders. To learn more, visit: www.caldic.com

Equal Opportunity Employer

Caldic celebrates diversity and is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, or any other characteristic.

Location: Rotterdam, NL, 3014 DA City: Rotterdam Country/Region: NL