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.
Position Overview
The Regional Category Manager plays a key role in formulating and implementing sourcing strategies tailored to specific categories that contribute to long-term competitive advantage. This position collaborates with regional, global, and cross-functional partners to maximize cost savings, foster innovation, enhance supplier performance, and effectively manage risk across assigned spending areas.
Primary Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Sourcing
- Design and execute sourcing plans at both local and regional levels that align with overall business objectives and global category direction.
- Manage the entire 5-Step Sourcing Process, securing stakeholder agreement and formal approval for strategies.
- Pursue opportunities for value generation, such as cost reduction, value engineering, and supplier-driven innovation.
Supplier Relationship Management
- Develop and sustain long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers.
- Conduct routine performance assessments (quarterly and annually) for key suppliers.
- Lead contract negotiations to achieve competitive pricing and service quality.
Stakeholder Collaboration
- Build strong networks across regional and functional leadership, including Operations, R&D, Innovation, and Plant General Managers.
- Engage in critical business discussions to ensure sourcing activities support operational and strategic goals.
Performance Tracking & Data Management
- Monitor and document sourcing achievement, including cost reductions and innovation efforts, via the SIP pipeline.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date sourcing and spend data, including master records, classifications, forecasts, and timelines.
- Contribute insights on market trends and provide visibility on category performance.
Key Performance Indicators
- Delivery of agreed cost in/out targets
- Proportion of spend under active contracts
- Savings captured and reported via SIP
- Number and execution of identified innovation initiatives
- Precision and punctuality of sourcing and spend data
Experience & Qualifications Required
- At least 5 years in sourcing or procurement within a multinational company
- Experience managing procurement for petrochemicals (preferably polystyrene) and liquid industrial chemicals
- Demonstrated impact on cost savings and financial improvement
- Success in contract negotiations, total cost of ownership analysis, risk management, and responsible sourcing practices
Core Skills & Competencies
- Expertise in category management and sourcing processes
- Proficiency in supplier evaluation and negotiation
- Strong financial acumen—budgeting and forecasting skills
- Analytical mindset with strong negotiation and influencing abilities
- Understanding of international trade (e.g., Incoterms, letters of credit)
- Project management capabilities, adept at handling multiple priorities
- Ability to collaborate effectively across cultures
Join us. Help protect food, people and the planet.
Skills Required
- At least 5 years in sourcing or procurement within a multinational company
- Experience managing procurement for petrochemicals and liquid industrial chemicals
- Experience with polystyrene procurement (preferred)
- Demonstrated impact on cost savings and financial improvement
- Success in contract negotiations, total cost of ownership analysis, and risk management
- Responsible sourcing practices
- Expertise in category management and sourcing processes
- Proficiency in supplier evaluation and negotiation
- Strong financial acumen including budgeting and forecasting
- Understanding of international trade (Incoterms, letters of credit)
- Project management capabilities and ability to handle multiple priorities
- Ability to collaborate effectively across cultures
Huhtamaki Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Huhtamaki and has not been reviewed or approved by Huhtamaki.
-
Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive with dental and vision options, and employer contributions toward premiums are portrayed as generous. Feedback suggests this breadth makes the overall package feel competitive for many roles.
-
Retirement Support — Retirement programs include a 401(k) with pre‑tax and Roth options, with certain groups also having access to a pension and even deferred compensation. Feedback suggests these features stand out positively in a manufacturing context.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off, paid holidays, and generous parental leave are emphasized alongside meaningful PTO accruals. Feedback suggests this leave structure strengthens perceived total rewards even where base pay is viewed as only fair.
Huhtamaki Insights
What We Do
Huhtamaki is a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world, enabling wellbeing and convenience. Our innovative products protect on-the-go and on-the-shelf food and beverages, ensuring hygiene and safety, and help prevent food waste. We embed sustainability in everything we do. We are committed to achieving carbon neutral production and designing all our products to be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2030. We are a participant in the UN Global Compact and EcoVadis has awarded Huhtamaki with the Gold medal for performance in sustainability. To play our part in managing climate change, we have set science-based targets that have been approved and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. With 100 years of history and a strong Nordic heritage we operate in 37 countries and 103 operating locations around the world. Our values Care Dare Deliver guide our decisions and help our team of around 18 000 employees make a difference where it matters. Our 2023 net sales totaled EUR 4.2 billion. Huhtamaki Group is headquartered in Espoo, Finland and our parent company, Huhtamäki Oyj, is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. Find out more about how we are protecting food, people and the planet on www.huhtamaki.com
