Procurement (Raw Materials) | Lead Level

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced procurement professional to take ownership of a strategically important portfolio of non-commodity raw materials supporting our food manufacturing business.

This is a strategic, project-led procurement role with responsibility beyond day-to-day purchasing. You will lead sourcing initiatives, develop new supply options, strengthen supply resilience and support new product development - working closely with R&D, QA, Production and Supply Chain.

What You Will Own

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

·  Lead end-to-end sourcing, from business requirements and sourcing strategy through supplier identification, evaluation, negotiation and implementation.

·  Independently identify and develop new suppliers and alternative sources.

·  Lead RFQ/RFP, supplier benchmarking and commercial evaluation.

·  Develop sourcing recommendations balancing quality, cost, delivery, service and supply risk.

·  Identify new materials, supplier capabilities and sourcing solutions that strengthen long-term competitiveness.

Supply Resilience & Business Continuity

·  Strengthen supply continuity for critical raw materials through supplier diversification and alternative sourcing.

·  Assess single-source and limited-source risks and develop appropriate mitigation plans.

·  Lead procurement initiatives supporting Business Continuity Planning (BCP).

·  Monitor market, regulatory and supply-chain developments that may impact material availability.

·  Explore international sourcing opportunities and relevant trade considerations, including FTAs where applicable.

NPD & Cross-functional Leadership

·  Partner closely with R&D on sourcing for new product development, reformulation and material optimisation.

·  Constructively challenge sourcing constraints and explore alternative materials or suppliers where appropriate.

·  Lead procurement projects from initial requirement through implementation.

·  Influence stakeholders across R&D, QA, Production, Planning and Finance to reach well-balanced sourcing decisions.

Supplier & Commercial Management

·  Identify, evaluate, qualify and develop suppliers in partnership with QA and R&D.

·  Ensure suppliers meet relevant quality, food safety, traceability and compliance requirements.

·  Build strong supplier relationships supporting innovation, reliability and continuous improvement.

·  Analyse cost drivers, market movements and total cost of ownership to support commercial decisions.

What We're Looking For

·  Strong procurement experience with exposure to raw materials and direct sourcing.

·  Food/FMCG manufacturing experience preferred; pharmaceutical, home & personal care or other quality-sensitive industries are also relevant.

·  Proven ability to identify, source and develop suppliers independently.

·  Strong understanding of supplier qualification, negotiation, contracting and supply-risk management.

·  Experience partnering with R&D, QA, Production and Supply Chain functions.

·  Strong commercial judgement, analytical thinking and structured problem-solving.

·  Proactive, energetic and comfortable taking ownership of projects end-to-end.

·  Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.

·  Good command of written and spoken English.

Why This Role Matters

Specialised raw materials sit at the intersection of product quality, innovation, commercial competitiveness and manufacturing continuity.

You will play an important role in diversifying supply sources, reducing dependency on constrained materials, strengthening contingency plans and enabling future product development.

With broad exposure across Procurement, R&D, Quality and Manufacturing, the role also provides a strong platform for future category rotation and broader regional procurement opportunities.