Category Manager – Raw Materials and Ingredients

Job Description    

• Join Lactalis at our offices in Western Cape and take on the challenge of the Category Manager – Raw Materials and Ingredients role. The purpose of this role is to manage the procurement operations of defined category responsibility, increasing the spend coverage and identifying opportunities for process improvement and cost reduction. This exciting career opportunity will enable you to apply your business acumen to ensure that the company achieves this challenging objective during the next phase of its growth in South Africa.

Required Skills    

• 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
• A good understanding of Supply Chain and Procurement principles and standards
• Understanding of sustainability and environmental practices within the food industry would be advantageous
• Experience in managing relationships with key suppliers
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to travel locally to the local sites and sites in neighbouring African countries
• Continuous Improvement mindset with the focus on cost saving and compliance
• Strong negotiation skills
• Ability to lead a team of procurement professionals

Duties & 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.

Deadline:25th September,2026