Procurement Buyer

Procurement Buyer - Cocoa & Chocolate Want to help us bring happiness to the world?
Want to join an ambitious and fast-growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure, and people?
Then this is the place for you.
As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don't compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire.
We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.
To succeed at pladis, you need to be purpose-led , resilient , and positive.
We expect pace and agility , insist on collaboration , and demand accountability.
If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact.
This is an extremely exciting opportunity for an experienced Procurement professional to join the team in a strategic role with the UK & I responsibilities.
Role Purpose: We are looking for an FMCG procurement buyer with a passion for delivering results and growth.
You will have a desire to grow your skills, engage teams across the business, and take people with you at each stage.
You will be highly analytical, numerate, and able to communicate your clear vision effectively to all levels in the business.
As a Regional Procurement Buyer, you will lead and manage the procurement of cocoa & chocolate for the UK & I region.
You will maintain and develop the supplier base, drive strategic relationships, and execute material group strategies.
Reporting to the Procurement Head for the UK & I, you will play a critical role in ensuring supply continuity, cost optimization, and sustainable sourcing.
Key Responsibilities: Strategic Responsibilities: Building strong relationships with suppliers and owning your sourcing strategy to ensure a robust security of supply across all materials.
Share and implement the regional category strategies for cocoa & chocolate focusing on key strategic deliverables: cost out, cash flow, supply continuity, sustainability, and innovation.
Build strong SRM (Supplier Relationship Management) in partnership with the global head across global and regional strategic suppliers.
Collaborate cross-functionally with regional teams (e.g., manufacturing sites, supply chain, and R&D partners) to deliver regional projects for productivity and business continuity.
Work closely with the global head of category to implement key strategic projects.
Implement all regional procurement-driven processes & tools within their team and category.
Develop and implement category strategies for other regional categories, focusing on key strategic deliverables: cost out, cash flow, supply continuity, sustainability, and innovation.
Provide input into the category and supplier segmentation, and managing suppliers operating locally and not under the radar of the global category.
Operational Responsibilities: Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing sites to ensure on-time and complete deliveries, minimizing risk.
Ensure the category has a robust contract balance process in place.
Lead AOP (budgeting process) for the cocoa & chocolate category within the region.
Continuously monitor the market for intel, new suppliers, and horizon scanning.
Finalize contracts with suppliers and ensure compliance to pladis Ts&Cs.
Gather all necessary requirements (volume, specifications, service levels, KPIs) from stakeholders.
Manage closely current volumes, spend, and specifications by supplier.
Update regional price lists and systems and manage price reconciliations.
Managing the procurement SRP system to ensure contracts are loaded, managed, and maintained to enable supply chain teams to order and manage materials.
Execute physical hedges, based on category instructions, with local suppliers.
Qualifications and Experience: Graduate qualification or proven experience in FMCG procurement.
Negotiation and commercial analytical skills.
Supplier/Customer relationship management experience or excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to form strong working relationships.
Project management and leadership skills, including how to make a strong recommendation.
The ability to lead many workstreams and work in a team whilst managing key stakeholders.
Demonstrate experience of developing, leading, and delivering change implementation within an organization.
Excellent communication and influencing skills within the team and across the business.
Cocoa & chocolate category experience is desirable.
MCIPS or equivalent certification is desirable.
Our winning traits and behaviours: Purpose-Led - Energised by our promise to deliver happiness to the world with every bite.
Agile - Ever evolving, never satisfied and never standing still.
Collaborative - Willing to work with others for mutual success.
Resilient - Quick to adapt to change, fast learner and persistent in the face of setbacks.
Positive - Self-motivated, optimistic, adventurous, and inspiring.
Diversity and inclusion are central to everything we do and is reflected across our business.
pladis brings together brands and people from around the globe – and this diversity is our outstanding strength.
We're an equal opportunities employer and believe in encouraging an inclusive environment where we celebrate diversity of thinking and respect everyone's distinctive qualities and perspectives.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform key job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
Please contact us to request accommodation.
Join us on our exciting journey to create happiness with every bite
pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce.
All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.
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