Global Senior Buyer Maltodextrin & Corn syrups

Global Senior Buyer Maltodextrin & Corn syrups

As Global Senior Buyer Maltodextrin & Corn syrups, you will play a strategic role within the Direct Materials Team of Danone’s Cycles & Procurement (C&P) organization. You will be accountable for driving value creation across Danone’s global businesses (Essential Dairy & Plant-Based, Specialized Nutrition), directly impacting both top-line competitiveness and bottom-line performance. Operating at the heart of Danone’s “One Planet. One Health” vision, you will shape sourcing strategies that drive cost efficiency, resilience, sustainability, and innovation across a complex and dynamic commodity landscape. You will manage a spend of approx. 100Mio EUR.

Key responsibiltiies:

• Own and define the global category strategy for maltodextrin and corn syrups across regions and divisions;
• Own the strategic direction of the category translating insight into impact.
• Drive sustainable productivity and cost optimization, continuously challenging the status quo;
• Lead global tenders, negotiations, and contract management across all business units;
• Identify, onboard, and develop strategic suppliers, while driving SRM for key partners;
• Ensure strong alignment between global strategy and local market execution;
• Partner with Market Intelligence and Risk teams to monitor trends and manage commodity exposure;
• Lead risk mitigation and supply continuity strategies (e.g., dual sourcing, contingency planning);
• Define and drive the sustainability roadmap, including responsible sourcing and farmer inclusiveness;
• Act as a strategic business partner, leading cross-functional projects and influencing senior stakeholders in a global matrix.

About you

To be successful in this role you will need to have a solid experience in Procurement and/or Commodity management. Stakeholder engagement is one of your key strengths and you have demonstrated leadership capabilities, a ‘can-do’ attitude, are resilient, analytical thinker and result oriented, with a strong appetite to drive continuous improvement.

Experience & Technical Knowledge:

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or Supply Chain / Procurement.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in Procurement, Category Management, or Commodity Trading.
• Strong understanding of agro-commodities and market dynamics (corn/sweeteners is a plus).
• Proven track record in strategic sourcing, negotiations, and cost optimization.

Skills & capabilities:

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Influencing and stakeholder management at senior levels.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, global projects.
• Strong negotiation skills with a value-driven mindset.
• High level of autonomy, agility, and resilience.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a continuous improvement focus.
• Strong communication skills in a multicultural, matrix environment.
• Fluent in English; second language is a plus.
• Ability to travel 15% of the time.

About Danone

At Danone we are committed to our mission “bringing health, through food to as many people as possible”. Working together to make sure that our brands, like Hipro, Nutricia, Alpro, Activia, Nutrilon and Evian, create real benefits for people, communities and the planet. You will be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world.

Cycles & Procurement is right at the heart of making the Danone vision One Planet. Through what and how we source, we shape the world in which we operate & we build the future for Danone. With our Cycles we protect and secure our key resources (Milk, Water and Plastic) & we take a strategic approach to Procurement to support the business and social agenda of Danone. We secure competitive, sustainable resources, seek innovative solutions, and partner up with suppliers aligned to our vision.

We offer:

All Danoners receive a complete package of benefits. This includes a competitive salary and yearly bonus, a premium free pension, 30 days of annual leave (with the opportunity to purchase more) and you will receive a monthly health care allowance. In addition, you can get discount on your gym membership, and we offer initiatives focused on nutrition, physical, and mental health. We provide continuous learning opportunities through workshops, online courses and training sessions.