Category Manager

About Us
At Walter & Wild, we’re proud to be one of New Zealand’s leading food manufacturers, home to some of the country’s most iconic brands including Hubbards, Hansells, Aunt Betty’s, Vitafresh & Vitasport, Gregg’s, Killinchy Gold, NZ Natural and more.
As a proud Kiwi company with big goals, we combine the scale to make a real impact with the feeling of a close‑knit, collaborative team. Our portfolio is filled with household favourites, and our passion for innovation and quality drives everything we do.

The Role
We're looking for an experienced Category Manager to lead our packaging portfolio while also supporting selected raw materials, finished goods and services across the Walter & Wild Group.
This is a highly commercial role where you'll drive sourcing strategies, lead supplier negotiations, manage category risk and deliver cost-saving initiatives across a complex manufacturing environment. Working closely with Operations, Planning, NPD, QA and Finance, you'll play a key role in ensuring supply continuity, improving margins and supporting business growth.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute category strategies across packaging and other assigned categories.
• Lead sourcing, tenders, supplier negotiations and contract management.
• Deliver cost savings, value creation and margin protection initiatives.
• Monitor packaging markets, commodity trends, freight, FX and supplier cost movements.
• Drive supplier performance across cost, quality, service and innovation.
• Manage supply risk through contingency planning and alternative sourcing strategies.
• Partner with Operations, Planning and NPD to support production and growth plans.
• Maintain accurate procurement master data, including supplier records, pricing and lead times.

About You
You're a commercially astute procurement professional who enjoys building supplier relationships, negotiating outcomes and identifying opportunities to drive value. You can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution and thrive in a fast-paced FMCG environment.
You will bring:

• 5+ years' procurement, sourcing or category management experience within FMCG, food manufacturing or a similar environment.
• A relevant tertiary qualification + CIPS or APICS (highly regarded)
• Strong negotiation, supplier management and contract management skills.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to analyse costs and identify value opportunities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with ERP systems (Dynamics 365 preferred).
• A resilient, self-driven and results-focused approach, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Why Apply
At Walter & Wild, we bring together people who are commercially savvy, care about others, and thrive in a fast‑paced, purpose‑driven environment. We value fresh thinking, staying curious, and adapting quickly. We’re always looking for smarter, more innovative ways to move forward - and we make sure to enjoy ourselves along the way!
What we offer:

• To be part of a growing business with a portfolio of well‑known and trusted brands
• A supportive, down‑to‑earth team culture
• Training, development, and genuine growth opportunities
• Competitive pay

 
If you're looking for a role where your commercial expertise can make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now with your CV.

Please note that you must have valid NZ working rights and be based in New Zealand to be considered.