Procurement Category Manager

Tegel Foods Limited; Auckland; Remote; NZD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Life insurance

KiwiSaver contributions

Staff discounts on Tegel products

On-site parking

Collaborative team environment

Job summary

Tegel Foods Limited in New Zealand is seeking an experienced procurement professional to lead end-to-end category management across a varied portfolio including packaging, ingredients and indirect spend. You will own category strategies and drive value through stakeholder collaboration.

Partner with Operations, Finance, Quality, R&D and Senior Leadership to shape sourcing decisions, negotiate contracts, and deliver measurable commercial outcomes that support Tegel's growth in New Zealand.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management within a food manufacturing, FMCG, or similarly complex environment.
• Ability to challenge thinking constructively and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.
• Strong commercial judgement; balancing cost, risk, service and long‑term value.

Responsibilities

• Own a portfolio of categories end-to-end, from strategy development through to execution and performance management.
• 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.

Skills

Procurement

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

Negotiation

Problem solving

Job description

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

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

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're looking for a role where you can influence strategy, drive meaningful commercial outcomes, and be part of a business that feeds New Zealand every day, we'd love to hear from you.