Procurement Category Manager

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About the role

As a Procurement Category Manager working for Kerry Europe you will be play a key role in our Commodities Procurement Team based in Naas, County Kildare (on a hybrid working model), Joining us means working in a fast, agile and ambitious environment, with talented people who really care about what they do.

What does our ideal candidate look like?

The Procurement Category Manager will lead the strategic sourcing activities for their category(s) in Europe, with the goal of achieving significant cost reductions, while maintaining/improving product quality and vendor service levels. 

The individual will coordinate the category management team and work closely with key stakeholders in corporate functions to pursue effective strategies and implementation plans. 

This position is responsible for ensuring execution of global category strategies in the Europe region and is accountable for implementation of all regional and global cost optimization initiatives. 

• We are looking for a self-starter with strong commercial acumen and strong negotiation skills. 
• The successful candidate will have a strong work ethic who is persistent and determined to deliver best value for Kerry. 
• Excellent communication and listening skills are essential.
• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills. 
• Leading and Managing Change – A fast learner who rapidly moves up the learning curve. Someone who embraces change and is willing to adapt and take on new responsibilities.

Key responsibilities

• Ensure Raw Material supply continuity.
• Develop long-lasting relationships with Kerry Europe and the Kerry-wide stakeholder community, ensuring their requirements are accounted for in your category strategy.
• Build the Procurement brand across Kerry to ensure Procurement is seen as strategic partner and value creator for Kerry. 
• Drive insight and improvements across cost, risk and value for Kerry
• Deliver product and material changes aligned to business objectives
• Identify and delivering product and material optimisation projects,
• Develop and execute sourcing and tendering strategies for their categories
• Build deep raw material expertise and industry knowledge across the spend categories and be the procurement expert and trusted key advisor to stakeholders across the business
• Maintain strong cross-functional relationships between Procurement and other key functions, RD&A, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, etc.
• Ensure data validity and reporting within their categories is correct
• Manage and build Supplier Relationships with Key supply base
• Ensure supplier compliance for required standards of business (Supplier Quality, Insurance, SEDEX, etc)
• Supplier Benchmarking and workshops
• E-Tendering / Contract Management / Margin Management

Qualifications and skills

• Strong communication/interpersonal skills.  
• Drive – someone who is self-motivated and career driven with a strong sense of urgency, enthusiasm and commitment.  
• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills.  
• Leading and Managing Change – A fast learner who rapidly moves up the learning curve. Someone who embraces change and is willing to adapt and take on new responsibilities.
• Delivery of Sustainable Results – Strong results-oriented mentality with a continuous cost focus; drives cost/value initiatives. 
• Project Management – Someone who is able to plan and manages projects through to completion

Experience (Desirable): 

• Successful, multi-year track record within Procurement

What's in it for me?

Opportunity for career development, matched pension scheme to up to 10% and access to an employee assistance program and employee benefit platform. 

In Kerry we benefit from the knowledge of our colleagues who bring a diverse range of cultures, backgrounds, lifestyles and experiences.

One team fostering an inclusive culture that, above all, inspires food and nourishes life.

One culture where everyone brings their unique perspectives and experiences to help make us better, together.

We are committed to nurturing an environment of positivity and inclusiveness, where everyone can be at their best, both personally and professionally.

​Our recruitment, selection and assessment process are based on the skills and competencies of the specific roles and based entirely on merit. We are committed to and value Diversity and Inclusion in all recruitment processes within Kerry and do not discriminate based on gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, age, political beliefs, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic.

Get in touch today- we look forward to meeting you!