Group Category Manager - Dairy & Protein

About the role

The Group Category Manager for Dairy & Protein takes ownership of the global sourcing strategy for two business-critical categories: dairy (milk derivatives, milk powders, cheese and other milk products used in bakery applications) and protein (processed meat products such as scalded sausages, hams and bacon, plus egg products like liquid egg and egg powders). The role works closely with Procurement Colleagues, R&D, Quality, Supply Chain and Finance to build resilient supply partnerships and deliver bakery products to customers worldwide. The position is based in Cham, Switzerland.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute global Dairy & Protein sourcing strategies aligned with business priorities and procurement goals.
• Monitor commodity markets, cost drivers, supply dynamics and trends, turning them into sourcing roadmaps, forecasts and recommendations.
• Manage end-to-end RFx processes, supplier selection, negotiations and contracting, focusing on cost, quality, innovation, sustainability and risk.
• Build strategic supplier relationships, lead business reviews and performance improvement plans, and drive joint innovation.
• Identify and realise savings, mitigate inflation, optimise the supplier portfolio and strengthen working-capital performance.
• Ensure supply continuity, contingency planning, ethical sourcing and compliance with procurement governance and contracting standards.
• Drive adoption of global agreements and category initiatives across business units, sites and geographies.
• Guide category teams, local procurement colleagues and cross-functional project members, and coach stakeholders.

Required profile

• University degree in Business, Supply Chain, Food Science, Engineering or a related field; a Master's degree is an advantage.
• At least 5 years of experience in strategic procurement or category management, preferably in food, ingredients, FMCG or manufacturing.
• Good knowledge of Dairy and/or Protein markets, including cost drivers, supply dynamics and suppliers.
• Proven experience developing category strategies and managing sourcing projects regionally or internationally.
• Fluent English; German or another European language is an advantage.

Required skills

• Strong negotiation, analytical and project-management skills, with supplier selection and contracting experience.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams; initial coaching or functional leadership experience is an advantage.
• Very good Excel skills and experience with procurement or ERP systems; knowledge of SAP, GEP or analytics dashboards is an advantage.