Procurement Category Manager

Tegel Foods Ltd; Auckland; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Life insurance

KiwiSaver matched up to 4%

Staff discounts

Free on-site parking

Supportive team environment

Job summary

Tegel Foods Ltd, based in Auckland, seeks a Strategic Sourcing professional to own end-to-end category management across a varied portfolio including packaging, ingredients, chemicals, utilities, and logistics. You will develop and execute category strategies, lead negotiations, manage supplier performance and identify value opportunities.

You’ll collaborate with Operations, Finance, Quality, R&D and the Senior Leadership Team, where your recommendations matter and commercial judgement is

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement, strategic sourcing or category management experience in food manufacturing/FMCG environments.
• Track record of turning commercial opportunities into measurable outcomes.
• Ability to challenge thinking constructively and influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial judgement balancing cost, risk, service and long-term value.
• Natural curiosity and desire to understand how things work to drive improvements.
• Ownership, accountability and willingness to roll up your sleeves.

Responsibilities

• Own a portfolio of categories end-to-end from strategy through execution and performance management.
• Partner with senior leaders to shape sourcing decisions and support Tegel's objectives.
• Lead supplier negotiations and manage contracts delivering sustainable value.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and stakeholders across the business.
• Use market intel and data to identify opportunities, manage risks and inform decisions.
• Deliver value beyond price via innovation, cost optimisation and process improvement.

Skills

Procurement experience

Category management

Negotiation

Stakeholder influence

Commercial judgement

Ownership

Curiosity

Job description

Our Story

At Tegel Foods, we're proud to be one of New Zealand's most iconic and trusted brands. For generations, we've been delivering high-quality Halal chicken products to Kiwi households, helping families put great food on the table every day.

Behind our success is a team of passionate people who continuously challenge the status quo, drive innovation, and find smarter ways of working. As New Zealand's leading poultry producer, we're committed to building capability, embracing continuous improvement, and investing in talented people who want to make a genuine impact.

The Opportunity

Make no mistake, this is not a purchasing role! Our Strategic Sourcing team is built differently. At its core is a dedicated function focused on removing inefficiencies via automation and user‑centric reporting, enabling our Category Managers and Raw Material Planners to spend more time driving supplier performance, partnering with stakeholders, and delivering commercial outcomes.

This role offers genuine end‑to‑end category ownership across a varied portfolio which may include Packaging, Ingredients, Chemicals, Utilities, Logistics and other indirect spend categories. You'll be responsible for developing and executing category strategies, leading negotiations, managing supplier performance, and identifying opportunities to create value across the business.

You'll work closely with stakeholders across Operations, Finance, Quality, R&D, and members of the Senior Leadership Team. This is a role where your recommendations matter, your commercial judgement is valued, and your work will have a visible impact on Tegel's performance.

We're looking for someone who enjoys solving complex commercial challenges, can confidently challenge conventional thinking, and thrives in an environment where accountability, continuous improvement, and results matter.

What You’ll Bring

You're likely to be a seasoned procurement or category professional who enjoys working in a fast‑paced environment where your decisions have a visible impact on the business. You’ll bring:

• 5+ years’ experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management within a medium to large food manufacturing, or FMCG environment or similarly complex environment
• A track record of turning commercial opportunities into measurable business outcomes
• The confidence to challenge thinking constructively and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership
• Strong commercial judgement and an ability to balance cost, risk, service, and long‑term value
• A natural curiosity and desire to understand how things work before finding ways to improve them
• Ownership, accountability, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves when needed

What Success looks Like

In this role you'll:

• Own a portfolio of categories end‑to‑end, from strategy development through to execution and performance management
• Partner with senior leaders to help shape sourcing decisions and support Tegel's strategic objectives
• Lead supplier negotiations and manage contracts that deliver sustainable commercial value
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and stakeholders across the business
• Use market intelligence and data to identify opportunities, manage risks, and support informed business decisions
• Deliver value beyond price through innovation, cost optimisation, and process improvement

Why Join Tegel?

In return, you'll join a business where your input is valued and your work directly contributes to feeding New Zealand. We offer:

• Competitive salary package
• Medical and life insurance benefits
• Matched KiwiSaver contributions up to 4%
• Staff discounts on Tegel products
• Free on‑site parking
• A supportive, collaborative team environment
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a well‑known Kiwi business