Category Manager EAME Packaging

Looking for an opportunity to shape sourcing strategies, create measurable business value, and contribute to sustainable growth within a global organization?

IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, and health & biosciences, delivering sustainable innovations that enhance everyday products around the world.

This hybrid role can be based in Asturias, Spain; Budapest, Hungary; or another IFF office location within Europe.

Job Summary

The Category Manager, Packaging EAME, is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for a packaging portfolio of approximately €120 million in annual spend. You will leverage market intelligence, procurement expertise, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver cost optimization, security of supply, sustainability progress, and long-term value creation across the region.

Working closely with stakeholders across Taste, Scent, and Health & Biosciences, you will lead strategic sourcing initiatives, drive supplier performance, and help position the business for continued growth and operational resilience.

The key value axis of IFF sourcing strategy are the following:

• Deliver total cost of ownership (TCO) improvements and cash optimization through portfolio, supplier, and specification optimization.

• Advance IFF's sustainability agenda through CO₂ reduction initiatives across the category.

• Create measurable value aligned with regional and business priorities.

• Strengthen supply resilience through proactive market monitoring and informed sourcing decisions.

• Partner with suppliers to unlock innovation, technology advancement, and business growth opportunities.

Where You'll Make a Difference 

• Develop and execute regional packaging category strategies across EAME, driving supplier rationalization, specification optimization, and procurement excellence.

• Lead sourcing initiatives and implementation plans that deliver savings, productivity, compliance, working capital, and spend optimization objectives.

• Apply strategic sourcing methodologies, including spend analysis, market intelligence, supplier evaluation, and supply-base diversification.

• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships that support innovation, sustainability, quality, and long-term category priorities.

• Negotiate supplier agreements and commercial terms while driving supplier performance through structured reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Partner with Procurement, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and business stakeholders to align priorities and deliver sustainable value.

• Identify and mitigate supplier, market, and supply continuity risks, implementing strategies that strengthen resilience and business continuity.

What Makes You the Right Fit 

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related discipline.

• 7+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management.

• 5+ years of experience within packaging procurement or a related category, with strong market knowledge and supplier networks preferred.

• Strong expertise in category management, procurement best practices, cost modeling, financial analysis, and value-creation methodologies.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate market dynamics and deliver measurable business results.

• Strong negotiation, project management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Proficiency with ERP systems, preferably SAP. CPSM, SPSM, or a related procurement or supply chain certification is an advantage. Fluent written and spoken English is required

Why Choose Us? 

IFF offers an attractive compensation and benefits package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical coverage for you, with optional coverage for your family.

• Pension plan to support your long-term financial security.

• Life and accident/disability insurance.

• Benefits Club with exclusive discounts and savings on everyday purchases and vacation packages through a wide network of providers.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offering discreet access to a wide range of wellbeing, financial, and personal support services for you and members of your household.

• Hybrid Work Profile

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more