Senior Procurement Manager Dairy

Real; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Real in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, is seeking a Senior Buyer Raw Materials to optimize our raw material portfolio and secure a reliable, cost-efficient supply chain for our Infant Nutrition business. You will manage an annual spend of approximately €30 million and work on-site three days per week.

Collaborating with Procurement, Finance, Planning, Quality, R&D, Marketing, Manufacturing and TPM, you will shape sourcing strategies, strengthen supplier relationships and drive continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant procurement experience.
• Experience in food, nutrition, pharmaceutical, FMCG, or manufacturing industries preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial negotiations and deliver cost savings initiatives.
• Manage supplier relationships and drive supplier performance improvements.
• Develop sourcing strategies for assigned raw material categories.
• Conduct market analysis and commodity risk assessments.
• Manage RFQ processes and contract negotiations.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization and productivity improvements.
• Ensure supply continuity through proactive risk management and contingency planning.
• Drive procurement-related projects including NPD launches and productivity initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with business objectives.
• Scout and evaluate new suppliers and innovation opportunities.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier management

Market analysis

RFQ management

Cross-functional collaboration

English communication

Contract management

Strategic sourcing

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Procurement / Supply Chain / Logistics

Job description

Senior Buyer Raw Materials

Location: Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 3 days on-site Contract: 1 year, also open for freelance

Full-time

Are you an experienced procurement professional with a passion for strategic sourcing, supplier management, and driving business value? Do you thrive in an international environment where collaboration, innovation, and commercial impact go hand in hand? Then we are looking for you.

As Senior Buyer Raw Materials, you will play a key role in optimizing our raw material portfolio and securing a reliable, cost-effective supply chain. Managing an annual spend of approximately €30 million, you will contribute directly to profitability, supply assurance, and innovation within our Infant Nutrition business.

Working closely with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders across Procurement, Finance, Planning, Quality, R&D, Marketing, Manufacturing, and TPM, you will help shape sourcing strategies and deliver sustainable value throughout the organization. [6 Group Di...r RM Draft | Word]

What will you do?

As Senior Buyer, you will be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies while maintaining strong supplier relationships and ensuring continuity of supply.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Leading commercial negotiations and delivering cost savings initiatives
• Managing supplier relationships and driving supplier performance improvements
• Developing sourcing strategies for assigned raw material categories
• Conducting market analysis and commodity risk assessments
• Managing RFQ processes and contract negotiations
• Identifying opportunities for cost optimization and productivity improvements
• Ensuring supply continuity through proactive risk management and contingency planning
• Driving procurement-related projects, including NPD launches and productivity initiatives
• Collaborating closely with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with business objectives
• Scouting and evaluating new suppliers and innovation opportunities within the market
• Supporting digitalization and continuous improvement of procurement processes
• Managing supplier claims and ensuring timely resolution of commercial and operational issues [6 Group Di...r RM Draft | Word]

What do you bring?

We are looking for a commercially minded procurement professional who combines strong analytical capabilities with excellent stakeholder management skills.

You have:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field
• At least 5 years of relevant procurement experience
• Experience within the food, nutrition, pharmaceutical, FMCG, or manufacturing industry is highly preferred
• Proven experience in direct and/or indirect procurement
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills
• Experience managing suppliers and working with cross-functional stakeholders
• A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with strong problem-solving abilities
• The ability to work independently while building strong relationships across the organization
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and verbal
• Knowledge of Chinese and/or Dutch is considered an advantage

What makes you successful?

You are someone who:

• Takes ownership and consistently delivers results
• Acts with integrity and builds trust through transparent communication
• Thrives in a fast-paced, international environment
• Embraces innovation and continuously looks for better ways of working
• Builds strong partnerships internally and externally
• Is open-minded, collaborative, and values diversity of thought and culture
• Balances commercial objectives with quality, compliance, and sustainability requirements