Regional Category Manager

IFF; Leiden; Hybrid; EUR 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work profile

Medical coverage

Pension plan

Employee discounts

Job summary

IFF is seeking a Regional Category Manager to join the EMEA Procurement team. The role focuses on developing and executing sourcing strategies for key raw materials across EMEA manufacturing sites, with regular interaction with international suppliers.

This hybrid role can be based in Leiden (Netherlands) among other locations and offers exposure to a high-visibility transformation period. You will manage supplier relationships, drive category strategy, and collaborate with Operations,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Procurement, Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Economics or equivalent.
• Relevant procurement, sourcing or category management experience.
• Experience in food ingredients, chemicals, manufacturing or FMCG environments preferred.
• Strong analytical and commercial skills.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute regional category strategies to ensure supply continuity, cost competitiveness and value delivery.
• Develop and maintain strategic supplier relationships, identify opportunities for innovation, sustainability, risk mitigation and continuous improvement.
• Communicate market developments, sourcing initiatives and supplier performance updates to stakeholders; act as procurement representative in the region.
• Develop and negotiate supplier agreements that deliver value while minimizing risk and ensuring supply continuity.
• Build cross-functional partnerships with Operations, Commercial, Quality, Supply Chain to align sourcing strategies.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives and productivity gains across the portfolio.
• Monitor market trends, cost drivers and supply risks to support sourcing decisions and category strategies.

Skills

Analytical skills

Commercial acumen

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Procurement/Supply Chain/Engineering/Economics

Job description

Job Summary

Looking for an opportunity to join the Food Ingredients EMEA Procurement team?

Job Summary

Looking for an opportunity to join the Food Ingredients EMEA Procurement team? This is your chance to be part of a highly visible team during an exciting period of transformation. You will gain exposure to international supplier markets, strategic sourcing initiatives and cross-functional collaboration while helping shape the future of the Food Ingredients business. IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that enhance products enjoyed by consumers around the world. In May, IFF entered into an agreement to sell its Food Ingredients business to CVC Capital Partners, a leading global private markets manager. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. This role offers an excellent opportunity to deepen your category management expertise, expand your international procurement exposure and contribute to a business undergoing significant transformation. This is a hybrid role that can be based in Asturias (Spain), Leiden (Netherlands), or Brabrand (Denmark). We are looking for a Regional Category Manager to join our EMEA Procurement team. In this role, you will develop and execute sourcing strategies to ensure the reliable supply, competitiveness and optimization of key raw materials across Food Ingredients manufacturing sites in EMEA.

Categories in scope

• Sugar
• Acidulants
• Salt
• Phosphates
• Additional ingredient categories

The Category Manager is accountable for the performance of the assigned portfolio, including category strategy development, supplier management, sourcing initiatives, portfolio optimization and continuous improvement projects. The Category Manager will manage supplier relationships and ensure alignment with business objectives. The role requires regular interaction with international suppliers and a strong understanding of raw material markets and industry networks. You will work closely with Operations, Commercial, Quality, Supply Chain and Technical teams to align sourcing strategies with business priorities and drive successful outcomes.

Where You'll Make a Difference

• Develop and execute regional category strategies that ensure supply continuity, cost competitiveness and value delivery. Implement sourcing initiatives across the region and deliver measurable business results.
• Develop and maintain strategic supplier relationships, identifying opportunities for innovation, sustainability, risk mitigation and continuous improvement. Partner with suppliers to support business growth and leverage market capabilities and technology solutions.
• Communicate market developments, sourcing initiatives and supplier performance updates to stakeholders. Act as the procurement representative and category advocate within the region.
• Develop and negotiate supplier agreements that deliver commercial value while minimizing risk and ensuring supply continuity.
• Build strong partnerships with Operations, Commercial, Quality, Supply Chain and other key functions to achieve business objectives.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives and productivity gains across the portfolio.
• Monitor market trends, cost drivers and supply risks, using insights to support sourcing decisions and category strategies.

What Makes You The Right Fit

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Procurement, Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Economics or equivalent.
• Relevant procurement, sourcing or category management experience.
• Experience within food ingredients, chemicals, manufacturing or FMCG environments is preferred.
• Strong analytical and commercial skills.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing supplier relationships.
• Ability to work effectively across functions and cultures.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Fluent in English.

Why Choose Us?

IFF offers an attractive compensation and benefits package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical coverage for you, with optional coverage for your family.
• Pension plan to help build your long‑term financial security.
• Life and accident/disability insurance.
• Benefits Club with exclusive discounts and savings on everyday purchases and vacation packages through a wide network of providers.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offering confidential access to a wide range of wellbeing, financial, and personal support services for you and members of your household.
• Hybrid work profile

For your awareness, IFF has announced its intention to sell its Food Ingredients Business to CVC Capital Partners. The sale is presently expected to close in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. The Food Ingredient business unit will remain a part of IFF until close and, at such time, it will transition to CVC Capital Partners. In applying for this position, you acknowledge your awareness that the position is a part of the Food Ingredient business unit and has been identified to transition to CVC Capital Partners.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more