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Global Category Manager
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Global Category Head – Soft Commodities | FMCG
A global food and FMCG business is looking for an experienced procurement leader to take ownership of a high-value global soft commodities category.
This is a genuinely global role with the opportunity to shape the category strategy, influence regional procurement teams and build long-term relationships with some of the organisation’s most strategic suppliers.
The role is moving from a centre-led to a fully centralised operating model, meaning the successful candidate will have clear global accountability and significant autonomy to drive the category forward.
What you’ll be responsible for:
- Owning the global category strategy across a significant soft commodities spend
- Developing and executing 2–3 year sourcing and procurement strategies
- Monitoring commodity markets, supply/demand fundamentals and pricing dynamics
- Building a clear view on commodity pricing and market movements
- Leading strategic supplier relationships, negotiations and framework agreements
- Driving productivity, cost savings and value creation
- Developing supply continuity and risk mitigation strategies
- Supporting commodity cover and hedging strategies
- Driving sustainability initiatives across CO2, deforestation and responsible sourcing
- Improving working capital and cash flow
- Influencing regional procurement teams to implement global strategies
- Working closely with R&D, Operations, Finance, Engineering and Marketing
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What they’re looking for:
The key requirement is strong experience across soft commodities procurement or category management. Sugar experience is welcome, but not essential.
Relevant backgrounds could include:
- Sugar / raw sugar
- Wheat / grains / cereals
- Oils / edible oils
- Coffee
- Cocoa
- Food ingredients
- Other agricultural or soft commodities
The ideal candidate will come from a global or regional procurement environment within FMCG, food manufacturing, food ingredients, consumer goods, agriculture or commodities.
Most importantly, this is a role for someone who can operate autonomously and influence without authority. There are no direct reports, so relationship management, networking and stakeholder influence are absolutely critical.
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They’ll need to be commercially and numerically sharp, curious about commodity markets and comfortable getting out to suppliers, factories and regional teams rather than being office-based.
Package:
- £90,000 base salary
- £7,000 car allowance
- Bonus
- Substantial benefits package
- Hybrid working, officially 3 days in the office / 2 from home
- Significant supplier and factory travel, so the role will realistically involve a mixture of office, travel and home working
- West London
This is a great opportunity for an experienced Global Category Manager, Category Head, Commodity Manager, Strategic Sourcing Manager or Senior Procurement professional looking to take full global ownership of a major soft commodities category.
If you have experience in soft commodities procurement and enjoy operating in a highly autonomous, stakeholder-heavy global role, I’d be keen to hear from you. Apply directly or message me for a confidential conversation.
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