Category Buyer

Enjoy a career, packaged with care, whilst helping protect food, people and the planet  

We are a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions. We're on a mission to make all packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable. Every day, we ensure the hygiene and safety of food and drink for people around the world. We are Huhtamaki.   

You could be part of our vision. Because it's our talented people that make it happen. Our people on the shop floor producing innovative, sustainable products. Our people in our offices delivering excellence for our customers every day. It's every one of us working together.  

We offer a place where you can feel safe, be supported, and make an impact so we can all focus on the future together.   

Role Purpose & Statement

As the Category Buyer for North America, you will cultivate strong vendor relationships, execute strategic bids and formal quotes, and support annual cost savings initiatives. By leveraging regional market intelligence and ensuring timely, accurate data updates and vendor request fulfillment, you will drive cost-effective sourcing strategies and contribute to the organization's operational excellence and financial success.

Main responsibilities

• Work closely with Sales and Business Development team for maximizing top line and minimizing inventory
• Identify and evaluate cost saving opportunities, reliable supplier base and quality vendors
• Analyze sales trend for category and product 
• Establish yearly sourcing pipeline
• Ensure cost competitive supply for the unit by running tenders and benchmark exercises in the supply market.
• Responsible for introduction of new suppliers and the removal of existing suppliers in conformance with the supplier approval process in place.
• Manage cross-functional sourcing project teams (incl. Sales and NPD)
• Master Data management for Traded goods database

Other responsibilities

• Review KPI and ensure that the business is well informed of the current sales performance, assortment plans and merchandise strategies
• Track KPIs for savings and supplier performance
• Conduct product knowledge training with commercial team
• Competitive benchmarks analysis

Accountabilities

• Deliver substantial and sustainable cost savings: responsible for setting, monitoring, and driving Total Cost of Ownership reduction initiatives with annual cost savings targets aligned with management, business functions and segment sourcing team.
• Develop and execute effective and consistent unit sourcing strategies.
• Implement and support Group sourcing category plans in unit (including follow up of saving actions).

Job requirements

• Good command of spoken & written English, spoken & written Mandarin
• Tertiary educated or above in any discipline
• At least 3+ year experience in the products Purchasing
• Previous exposure in packaging industry will be advantageous
• Good product sense & well-organized
• Business travel is needed

Personal attributes

• Excellent communication & negotiation skills
• Be numerate, self-motivated as well as customer focus mindset
• Able to work independently & under pressure
• Good PC proficiency, advanced MS Excel skills with ability to build and maintain complex calculators

Join us. Help protect food, people and the planet.