EU Category Sourcing Manager Road Freight

Procurement

EU Category Sourcing Manager Road Freight

Hoofddorp/ Paris/Hybrid

This strategic role involves managing extensive logistic procurement scope across Europe, functionally leading a team of logistic buyers in EU and designing procurement strategies for annual tenders. Key responsibilities include monitoring control tower performance, building and maintaining strong supplier relationships, overseeing contract negotiations, and supporting sustainability initiatives through decarbonization efforts. The location for this position is flexible and can be based in either France or the Netherlands.

SCOPE:

• 6-digit Full-Truck/Container-Load flows from ~40 supply points all over Europe to distribution centers and customers alike.
• Road and Multimodal (Rail / Short-Sea) transportation.
• Temperature controlled, secured closed box trailers, container, Tautliner, Bulk.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitoring and steering the control tower performance.
• Indirectly leading a team of 7 transport buyers located in Warsaw and Lyon.
• Designing the procurement strategy for multiple annual tenders.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers.
• Contract Management: Overseeing the negotiation, execution, and compliance of contracts.
• Market Monitoring: Analyzing market trends and converting insights into negotiation advantages.
• Supporting local, regional, and global Procurement & Operations strategies.
• Identifying decarbonization trends and opportunities to support sustainability initiatives.

KEY DELIVERABLES:

Inflation / Tender

• Develop an annual inflation model considering all variables (cost drivers and legislative changes) and assign weight per variable based on region, flows, supplier background and market intelligence.
• Propose and align the tender strategy.
• Create tenders in the e-sourcing platform for a transparent and auditable process.
• Execute tenders, plan allocations, and conduct negotiations according to strategy.

Lead / Monitor

• Provide functional leadership for 7 Logistics Buyers within the joint venture (JV).
• Assess task distribution between Danone and JV and within JV.
• Ensure JV tasks are structured to attract and retain talent.
• Monitor the individual performance of JV procurement employees.

Contract / SRM / Human Rights / Decarbonization

• Ensure comprehensive contract coverage
• Support local GTCP coverage
• Maintain and expand the Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) approach
• Collaborate with the Global Human Rights team to improve worker conditions in European transportation
• Support the Decarbonization strategy by identifying new opportunities, assessing costs and benefits and drafting agreements to meet future decarbonization goals.

About you

Key requirements:

• In-depth knowledge of the European Road Freight market and its key players.
• Extended experience (+7 years) in logistic procurement.
• Experienced in top-to-top negotiations at high-value/high-volume with both asset owners and freight forwarders
• Tender analytics: Proficiency in analyzing tender data and outcomes.
• Financial analytics and Market Intelligence: Strong ability to analyze financial data related to procurement and ability to translate Market Dynamics into business impact.
• Seniority, Strategy & Presentation: Ability to develop and present procurement strategies effectively to Executive Stakeholders.

Systems:

• Tender Management: Familiarity with systems like Coupa CSO, Jaggaer.
• Market Intelligence: Experience with tools like Transporeon Market Insights, UPPLY
• (AI) Spot Buying: Knowledge of AI-driven spot buying systems.
• Connectivity: Proficiency in using connectivity platforms like Project 44, Shippeo.
• Decarbonization: Understanding of decarbonization tools like EcoTransIT.

Furthermore you have these skills:

• Strategic purchasing.
• Transversal and project management, including cross-cultural and cross-functional collaboration in a matrix organisation.
• Presentation / Communication.
• Analytical & Fundamental IT.
• Legal basics knowledge in contract/liabilities.
• Taking responsibility and ownership.
• Business acumen / cross functional understanding.
• Connecting inside and outside the organization.

About Danone

Working at Danone is a unique experience. It’s fast-paced and complex and can be challenging at times. But it’s packed with opportunities to learn and grow working with some of the best-known brands in the world, like Evian, Alpro, Nutricia, Activia and Nutrilon. Bring your unique perspective, ambition and entrepreneurial ideas to the table – the impact you could make might just surprise you. One Planet. One Health – BY YOU.

We’re proud to be a B Corp certified company. That means we meet the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability in everything we do.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we base our hiring decisions on merit, job requirements, and business needs.*

We Offer

It’s an exciting time to join Danone. You’ll build meaningful relationships and networks working with large, dynamic brands. And the best part? You’ll be supported to grow an impactful career that you can be proud of. Together, we’ll build a healthier world.

All Danoners receive a complete package of benefits. This includes a competitive salary and yearly bonus, a premium free pension and great discounts on health insurance and Danone products. We understand the importance of flexibility and offer 30 days of annual leave (with the opportunity to purchase more) and a hybrid working environment, where you can work either from home or from one of our People Hubs in Hoofddorp, Utrecht and Rijswijk.

Need more information? Please contact Anna Anitova, anna.anitova@danone.com

* All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.