Global Category Manager

Ready to take a fresh step in your career? For more than a hundred years, we have been inventing, producing, and selling the most fun and delicious candies under the famous family name Perfetti Van Melle . Of course, we don’t do this alone — we do it with more than 19,000 colleagues worldwide ! Together, we make sure you can enjoy well-known brands every day, such as Mentos, Fruittella, Klene, Look-O-Look, Chupa Chups, Stimorol, Bubblicious, Smint and Frisk . Our colleagues in Group Procurement are eager to team up with you to ensure everyone can enjoy our freshmakers and sweets every single day. Global Category Manager (Food Raw Materials) Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Contract: Permanent, full-time (100%) Working model: Hybrid (3 days on-site, 2 days remote) Team: Group Procurement – Direct Materials Where we need you: The Group Procurement team is a global function based in Amsterdam, accountable for Direct Material spend across 16 operating companies worldwide . This role sits within Raw Materials Procurement and plays a key part in a broader organizational re-design, with scope transitioning from Packaging and partially from Shanghai to Amsterdam. You will combine operational excellence and strategic thinking , owning high-impact categories and leading a visible global transformation project. Your core responsibilities at a glance: Own global procurement for High-Intensity Sweeteners Lead a Global Distributor Optimization Project across multiple raw material categories Define and execute global sourcing and category strategies Drive cost optimization, supplier performance, and risk management (price, supply, financial) Lead cross-functional sourcing and project teams (Supply Chain, R&D, Manufacturing, Finance) Conduct supplier negotiations and develop allocation strategies Improve processes, ways of working, and global scorecard tracking Contribute to sustainability goals within Raw Materials sourcing The ingredients of Perfetti Van Melle – is this your flavor? We are Taste Makers in Candy . As the third-largest confectionery company in the world — and the second in Europe — we’re on a journey to become the best in making candy. And we need great colleagues to make that happen. What makes us unique: Empowering – Growth and development opportunities tailored to you Fun – A family-like culture, team events, and yes… a candy company! Innovation – Active engagement in sustainability, health, and food safety Dynamic – A truly global organization with operations in 30+ countries The ideal recipe for our new Global Category Manager: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (Procurement qualification is a strong plus) Minimum 3 years’ experience in strategic procurement (FMCG; Food & Beverages) Experience with Food Raw Materials and supplier negotiations Strong project management and change leadership skills Hands-on, entrepreneurial mindset with strong stakeholder management skills Comfortable working in a family-owned, entrepreneurial organization Fluent in English (additional languages are a plus) Willingness to travel internationally as per business needs Willingness to work full-time, 5 days per week , in a hybrid setup We offer: Competitive fixed salary recognizing your value Collective bonus system tied to organizational, market/channel and individual results Attractive pension scheme (2/3 paid by PVM) Five weeks of vacation + option to buy additional leave Training opportunities to support your growth Discounted gym membership via Bedrijfsfitness Nederland Attractive bike plan for commuting and private use Collective health insurance discount A bi-monthly candy package and access to our internal candy store Want a taste of more? If this role sounds like a sweet next step and you’re ready to elevate our Global Procurement team , we’d love to meet you! At Perfetti Van Melle, we believe the strength of our team lies in diversity. We create a workplace where everyone feels welcome, respected, and empowered to grow. Ready to shape the future of sweets? Apply now and help us create even more sweet moments!