Buyer Flexible Packaging @ Vandemoortele – Gent

Client description

Vandemoortele is a leading European food group that manufactures and sells high-quality food products. Vandemoortele has two business lines: one in frozen bakery products and one in margarines, culinary oils and fats.

In Bakery Products, Vandemoortele offers throughout Europe a wide range of frozen bread products, pastry, sweet treats, patisserie and savoury products for professional users in the bakery and foodservice channels as well as for retailers, who appreciate the quality and convenience of Vandemoortele’s products.

In Margarines, Culinary Oils & Fats, Vandemoortele targets European professional users with a broad portfolio of products that combine processability, taste and flavour, as well as European retailers with private label margarines and frying fats. In addition, Vandemoortele has a number of strong consumer brands in the Benelux such as Vandemoortele®, Fama®, Vitelma®, Diamant® and Gouda’s Glorie®.

In 2021, Vandemoortele realized a turnover of ca 1,2 billion euro. The Group is present in 12 European countries with 4.500 employees. The Vandemoortele headquarters are in Ghent, Belgium.

To strengthen the procurement department, we are looking for a buyer flexible packaging.

Job description

Would you like to take an important role in a dynamic environment? Are you ready to have a bottom line impact?

We are hiring a Strategic Packaging Buyer to cover the Flexible packaging category. As Packaging Buyer you are in charge of your category.

You are responsible for guaranteeing supply to the factories, cost optimization and strategy definition/implementation. You maintain supplier relationships, and follow-up on market information/trends, innovation, and sustainability.

You report to the Purchasing Manager Packaging, who reports to the CPO.

• Develop and implement a purchasing strategy for your categories of goods and services
• You are responsible for the flexible packaging category. This represents a yearly spend of roughly 12m€. You are responsible for the supply to 29 production plants spread over Europe.
• You source packaging material at the best “Total Cost of Ownership” within the requested timing and according to agreed quality criteria / technical specifications. You are able to run tenders and negotiations independently.
• You develop a purchasing strategy for your packaging category according to the Business Strategy considering cost, sustainability, production, quality, supply and availability, risk,… You are responsible for the implementation of the strategy.
• You are proficient in spend analysis and reporting.
• You screen the market for more sustainable packaging solutions and innovations in general. You are interested to learn more about the upcoming and current packaging legislation, and are able to translate it into concrete actions for your portfolio.
• You establish a sustainable relation and regular contacts with your key suppliers (performance evaluation, vendor objectives, cost reductions, innovations, sustainability, complaints,…).
• You contract packaging material with Framework Agreements / Terms & Conditions in cooperation with Legal.
• You are able to lead cross functional projects – you closely team up with R&D and marketing.
• You follow up and report about market trends and raw material price evolutions. You follow up on price indexations.
• You are responsible for making and following up on the budget for Flexible packaging.
• You take the lead towards suppliers in case of structural/major complaints, claims, corrective measures,…You support the sites with regard to operational problems such as delivery/lead time problems, supplier capacity problems, quality complaints,… The daily operational procurements activities (purchase orders, good receipts, …) are the responsibility of the local procurement employees in the production sites.
• You supervise the development of new packaging designs in web center.
• You take care of SAP related purchase administration.

Profile

• You hold a Master degree (Economics, Business Engineer, Engineer).
• You have at least 3 years of experience in a strategic procurement role.
• You are able to work independently as category lead. You take ownership over strategic and operational tasks.
• You are able to work cross functionally. Your excellent communication skills enable you to motivate, drive and engage your internal and external stakeholders.
• You are proactive and stress-resistant.
• You are a pragmatic problem solver.
• You have a high level of project management skills.
• You are a team player.
• You were able to train your negotiation skills in your previous role(s).
• You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, written and verbal, in English (company language). French/Dutch is a plus.
• Knowledge of SAP is a plus.
• You are willing to travel 15% of your time (European trips and fairs).
• For this exciting role you will be working at our HQ based in Ghent, Belgium.

Offer

• You will join Vandemoortele’s big little family: Their associates are the beating heart of the company – they bring the flavour to our organization. Vandemoortele cherishes each member, prioritizes their well-being and support their professional journey.
• Vandemoortele values you as a person: Vandemoortele values each one of their associates and recognize their unique contributions to team successes. They place great importance in giving associates the freedom to shape their own professional journey. You will have flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home 50% of the time. You’re also invited to join sports and wellbeing activities!
• Vandemoortele cares for your future and supports your professional journey: Vandemoortele believes in the power of their associates and support their career aspirations by offering internal mobility and promotional opportunities. Associates are encouraged to create a successful professional journey and entrusted with to take ownership.
• Products for you to love: Vandemoortele is a team of passionate food enthusiasts. In their mission to shape a tasty future, they strive to create a wide range of food solutions that connects people, cultures and traditions. You can kickstart your day with a delicious croissant fresh out of the oven and enjoy tasty food in the company restaurant. In their cosy coffee corners, you will find healthy fruit baskets to enjoy your break to the fullest.
• Easy to reach: the HQ is located close to a bus stop and highway exits. Want to come by bike? Lease a bike at Vandemoortele!

Contact

Nick Vermeulen | nick@purson.be | 0032 491 13 35 79