Strategic Category Manager: Raw Materials & Ingredients

Lactalis South Africa; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Lactalis South Africa is seeking a Category Manager – Raw Materials and Ingredients to lead category strategies, multi-sourcing, tender management, and supplier performance reviews at our Stellenbosch office.

You will consolidate supplier bases, drive cost savings, and collaborate with internal teams across procurement, quality, and operations to ensure compliant, cost-effective sourcing in a fast-paced FMCG environment. Local travel to sites in Africa may be required.

Qualifications

• University or similar degree – ideally in Supply Chain Management, Business Science, Industrial Engineering or related
• Minimum 5 years work experience, ideally in Procurement
• FMCG experience is preferred
• Understanding of sustainability and environmental practices within the food industry would be advantageous
• Experience in managing relationships with key suppliers
• Strong negotiation skills
• Ability to lead a team of procurement professionals

Responsibilities

• Category Management: Multi-Sourcing, tender management, negotiation, contracts
• Category strategies of top spend category’s
• Supplier performances review
• Consolidation (suppliers), synergies & coordination between countries
• Implementation of Systems & Procedures where applicable
• Strategic Sourcing Management
• Risks Management: Identification and counter measures in place
• Drive Savings Initiatives (Value analysis, new suppliers, etc.): Identification & Implementation
• Manage and improve overall suppliers’ performances
• Escalation Management
• Stakeholders Management (Internal: Industrial, Mktg, R&D, Quality, supply chain)
• Contribute to innovation and fast route to market
• Project Management in terms of: Value analysis, (role player)
• Supplier change overs
• New product launches.
• Dual Sourcing – the scope to still be extended
• Vendor Management & Evaluation
• Vendor Audits in association with Quality Dept
• Negotiation and Supplier Relationship Management
• Item and vendor Code Creation – Data collection
• Contract Creation
• Indirect Spend Coverage
• Coordination with production planning on potential supply concerns– S&OP
• Vendor payment Reconciliation
• Risk assessment & Mitigation
• Vendor governance
• Ensure quality, service level and cost of goods/service procured is delivered to agreed contracts.
• Analyse KPI performance of supplier portfolio to identify additional savings other improvement opportunities
• Periodic budget preparation, analysis and tracking of own supplier portfolio
• Ensure Master data is maintained
• Support implementation of global and local procurement standard and all processes within procurement policy
• Participates in development of strategy.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Project management

Communication

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Team leadership

Pressure management

Education

University degree in Supply Chain Management or related

Job description

Lactalis South Africa is seeking a Category Manager – Raw Materials and Ingredients to lead category strategies, multi-sourcing, tender management, and supplier performance reviews at our Stellenbosch office.

You will consolidate supplier bases, drive cost savings, and collaborate with internal teams across procurement, quality, and operations to ensure compliant, cost-effective sourcing in a fast-paced FMCG environment. Local travel to sites in Africa may be required.