Category Manager Indirects

Lactalis New Zealand; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Career progression

Collaborative culture

Safety & Quality focus

Flexible working

Job summary

Lactalis New Zealand is seeking an experienced procurement professional to own a broad indirect spend portfolio across NZ. You will shape category strategies, lead negotiations, and drive measurable commercial value in collaboration with the Oceania team.

You’ll manage supplier relationships, deliver annual savings, and ensure local ownership while leveraging regional contracts. A tertiary procurement or related degree and strong stakeholder skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ procurement or category management experience, ideally within FMCG, food, dairy or manufacturing.
• A tertiary qualification in Procurement, Commerce, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline, with MCIPS/CIPS membership or progress towards it highly regarded
• Strong negotiation, analytical and stakeholder management capability, with a strategic yet hands-on approach
• Proven track record of developing and executing category strategies and delivering cost savings, rebates, improved payment terms and total cost of ownership outcomes

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute New Zealand category strategies across industrial, site and corporate services, including engineering services, chemicals, energy and utilities, IT, professional services, labour hire, marketing, travel, fleet and facilities management
• Lead sourcing plans, tender activity, commercial negotiations and supplier selection, applying the right contracting approach across statements of work, rate cards, SLAs and outcome-based agreements
• Build and deliver the annual savings plan, identifying opportunities across pricing, rebates, payment terms, demand management and total cost of ownership
• Manage key supplier relationships through structured business reviews, scorecards, service-level measures and improvement plans to strengthen quality, continuity and commercial performance
• Partner with the Oceania procurement team to leverage regional contracts and joint tenders where they deliver value, while retaining local ownership where the New Zealand business requires locally tailored services

Skills

Procurement experience

Category management

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Education

Procurement/Commerce/Business qualification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Lactalis New Zealand, formerly known as Fonterra Brands NZ, is now proudly part of the Lactalis Group.

Lactalis is a French family-owned business and the world’s largest dairy company. With a presence in 50 countries, employing around 90,000 people and a range of 2,000 dairy products. Lactalis is committed to contributing to the health and well-being of consumers around the world every day.

Here in New Zealand, Lactalis New Zealand employs more than 1,000 people across four manufacturing sites, two distribution centres and our corporate head office. We manufacture high-quality dairy products enjoyed by Kiwis and consumers around the world.

Our business also includes NZ New Milk, a specialised nutrition and infant formula manufacturer that produces premium products for global markets. Together, we produce some of the country’s most loved dairy brands, including Anchor, Fresh 'n' Fruity and Mainland.

Our passionate and talented team is dedicated to nurturing the future of dairy, unlocking new opportunities, and fostering innovation in nutrition and food.

The Opportunity

Take ownership of a broad and varied portfolio of indirect spend categories that support every part of the Lactalis New Zealand business. Working closely with stakeholders across the organisation and the Oceania procurement team in Australia, you’ll have the autonomy to shape category strategies, strengthen supplier performance and deliver measurable commercial value. Reporting to the Head of Procurement and Co-Manufacturing you will:

• Develop and execute New Zealand category strategies across industrial, site and corporate services, including engineering services, chemicals, energy and utilities, IT, professional services, labour hire, marketing, travel, fleet and facilities management
• Lead sourcing plans, tender activity, commercial negotiations and supplier selection, applying the right contracting approach across statements of work, rate cards, SLAs and outcome-based agreements
• Build and deliver the annual savings plan, identifying opportunities across pricing, rebates, payment terms, demand management and total cost of ownership
• Manage key supplier relationships through structured business reviews, scorecards, service-level measures and improvement plans to strengthen quality, continuity and commercial performance
• Partner with the Oceania procurement team to leverage regional contracts and joint tenders where they deliver value, while retaining local ownership where the New Zealand business requires locally tailored services

About You

You’re an experienced procurement professional who enjoys variety, accountability and the opportunity to make a visible impact across an organisation. Commercially astute and confident working independently, you can move comfortably from category strategy and market analysis through to detailed negotiation, contracting and supplier performance management. In addition to this, you will have:

• 5+ years’ procurement or category management experience, ideally within FMCG, food, dairy or manufacturing, with exposure to indirect categories
• A tertiary qualification in Procurement, Commerce, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline, with MCIPS/CIPS membership or progress towards it highly regarded
• A strong understanding of services contracting models, demand management levers and the commercial considerations involved in complex service agreements
• A proven track record of developing and executing category strategies and delivering cost savings, rebates, improved payment terms and total cost of ownership outcomes
• Strong negotiation, analytical and stakeholder management capability, combined with a strategic yet hands-on approach and the confidence to work across functions and geographies

We are looking for someone who is passionate, ambitious, and eager to grow. Whether you’re ready for your next challenge or looking to deepen your expertise, we’d love to hear from you.

What We Offer

• Competitive pay and benefits
• Career development and progression opportunities within a global organisation
• A collaborative and supportive workplace culture where your contribution makes a real impact
• A strong commitment to safety, quality, innovation and sustainability
• Flexible working arrangements where possible

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Lactalis NZ, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.