International Procurement Manager Experience within the food or dairy industry

Core Mission
Your core mission will be to design, implement, and execute the international sourcing strategy to guarantee the optimal supply of raw materials and finished products. You will lead customs compliance, oversee budget allocation, drive global cost-reduction initiatives, and mitigate supply chain risks to safeguard product integrity (cold chain) from origin to our distribution centers.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management: Develop and manage high-level partnerships with international food suppliers, leading master service agreements (MSAs) and evaluating vendor performance.

Logistics & Customs Oversight: Oversee end-to-end international logistics operations. Evaluate, select, and manage the performance (KPIs) of customs brokers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, and 3PL providers.

Cold Chain & Quality Assurance: Establish, audit, and enforce strict cold chain protocols during international transit to guarantee food safety compliance, zero-loss operations, and minimize product spoilage.

Financial Control & Cost Optimization: Design and manage the annual procurement budget. Drive cost-saving initiatives and negotiate strategic Incoterms, payment terms, and volume discounts to maximize profitability.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that all import/export processes comply with local and international customs laws, sanitary permits, certificates of origin, and food safety regulations.

Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop the local procurement and import/export team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and high performance.

Candidate Profile
Academic Background: Bachelor?s degree in International Trade, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Food Engineering, or a related field. A Master?s degree or professional certifications (e.g., APICS, CSCP) is highly valued.

Professional Experience: 5 to 7 years of proven experience in international procurement and logistics, strictly within the food, perishables, or temperature-controlled products sector, with at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory role.

Technical Expertise: Deep and up-to-date knowledge of foreign trade regulations, customs legislation, tariff classifications, and food safety compliance (e.g., FDA, local sanitary authorities).

Languages: Upper-Intermediate to Advanced English (B2/C1). Must possess full professional fluency to conduct high-level business negotiations, draft corporate agreements, and communicate effectively with global stakeholders.

Key Competencies: Strategic thinking, financial acumen, advanced negotiation capabilities, crisis management, and data-driven decision-making under high-pressure environments.