procurement category manager for production equipment

Are you ambitious, driven, and looking to make a significant impact in a fast-changing environment, where you will take lead to ensure sourcing or production equipment is to our dairies is optimized and cost competitive? And, do you know how to set strategic direction for a designated sourcing category related to production equipment, to maintain a compliant and relevant supplier portfolio?

You will join a team of procurement colleagues, whom are passionate to ensure that they supplier base availably for production equipment is not just capable to deliver to quality and standards fit for future, they are also dedicated to ensure healthy competition in sourcing projects. Together with key stakeholders, we define the required sourcing strategy ahead and we aim to manage supplier relations accordingly." Says Procurement Senior Director Ninna Normand Helles.

Being based in our UK head office in Leeds, you will act as a sourcing business partner to the UK sites and build a strong collaboration with colleagues at sites as well as our global in Engineering & Technology team. You will take sourcing lead in projects for Capex projects and ensure competitive and timely sourcing of production equipment to UK sites.

How You Will Make an Impact

Your main responsibility is to take souring lead of capex projects at sites in the UK. You will ensure to define the sourcing plan, align with the project team, ensure a competitive sourcing process and evaluate and recommend supplier rewarding. You will navigate in a matrix organization and work closely with key stakeholders in your own team as well as across other team, to ensure success.

You will take ownership of a designated sourcing category within production equipment, where you are expected to define, execute and mature the category strategies. This includes ensuring a competitive and compliant portfolio of suppliers, which can deliver specific types of production equipment in all relevant markets.

Successfully navigating the complexity of your sourcing projects as well as your designated sourcing category, your key responsibilities will include

• Define and drive the category sourcing strategy , ensuring strong commitment and engagement from key stakeholders.
• lead and execute sourcing processes and negotiations. , managing high-complexity tenders to ensure objective supplier evaluation and competitive outcomes.
• Maintain a compliant, competitive, and relevant supplier portfolio that meets business demand and promotes effective competition.
• Build, lead, and sustain strong, long-term supplier relationships , fostering collaboration and continuous value creation.
• Partner closely with internal stakeholders to ensure successful, timely, and competitive execution of sourcing projects and complex tender packages.

In terms of travel, you can expect approximately 20-30 days per year to visit suppliers and Arla dairies at various locations in Europe. This travel will enable you to strengthen relationships and gain valuable insights.

What Will Make You Successful

Your qualifications include at least 5 years of experience in a similar role. Your innate project management mindset, coupled with strong analytical skills, allows you to seamlessly transition from a high-level strategic view to execution and diving deep for valuable insights. You excel in business partnering, building positive relationships, and effectively managing stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Your thoughtful communication and flexible project management ensure smooth and efficient processes.

Having a good understanding of complex negotiations, contracts, and the commercial and strategic aspects behind them is equally important in this role. Your experience includes

• You bring at least 5 years of extensive experience in strategic sourcing.
• You already poses profound experience as sourcing lead of complex tender projects and negotiations.
• You are an experienced Category Management and know how to set and drive a category strategy, and how to establish a compliant and relevant supplier portfolio for your category, preferably within production equipment.
• You have a good technical understanding and knowledge of production equipment and understanding of the supplier base across capex categories. Specific knowledge from the food and beverage industry, is a considerable advantage.
• Your fluency in spoken and written English is excellent.

You are fearless when it comes to challenging the status quo, and your courage and exceptional stakeholder management skills empower you to negotiate effectively and rally the right individuals when introducing new ideas. Your genuine interest in our business field drives you to proactively conduct research, ensuring a deep understanding of the global supply market. You thrive in a dynamic, international work environment where objectives and priorities are continuously evolving and developing.

What Do We Offer?

Join a high-performing team with a great culture and spirit, where you'll have the opportunity to develop your skills and make a real impact. At Arla, we're committed to professional growth and promoting from within. Our positive and collaborative culture brings out the best in everyone, and you'll be part of a market leader that produces nutritious, household-favorite brands in a sustainable way benefiting customers, our farmer-owners, and the world.

We're committed to supporting your growth and development, offering internal and external training opportunities. You'll enjoy a competitive salary, 26 days of holiday plus Bank Holidays, matched pension contributions up to 6%, life assurance, and bonus scheme. We also provide BUPA Healthcare, and other flexible benefits.

Would You Like to Join Us?

We are conducting interviews for this position on an ongoing basis, so please apply as soon as possible. For additional information, please submit our application without further hesitation, as we will close the recruitment when the right candidate has been found. In case of further questions, you may contact Talent Partner - Oliver Hickson-Burr

Our global procurement organization is spread across Denmark, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, UK, Poland, and Hong Kong and we manage procurement activities with an annual spend of approximately 3.5 billion EUR in total. This position will report to Senior Procurement Director of Capex, MRO, utilities and chemicals.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with natural, sustainable nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.