Procurement Team Lead (m/f) – Food Manufacturing
Give your team direction and production a supply base it can rely on.
Your role
We are looking for a procurement leader for a food manufacturing company in North Rhine-Westphalia. The role combines developing people with organising effective purchasing operations. Packaging, production-related requirements and close collaboration with production, planning and quality are central to the remit. You give the team clear priorities while understanding the practical consequences of supplier delays, changing demand and decisions made too late. Your focus spans daily delivery and the ongoing development of procurement.
Your responsibilities
- Lead the purchasing team, clarify responsibilities and support colleagues through demanding situations.
- Prioritise procurement activities according to production needs, supply risk and commercial significance.
- Develop packaging and production-related suppliers and lead important negotiations.
- Align demand changes with planning and production, making escalation paths clear.
- Improve ordering and coordination processes and reduce avoidable manual work.
- Establish useful measures for delivery performance, cost and outstanding actions.
What you bring
- At least five years of procurement experience and demonstrated initial experience leading a team.
- Experience in food manufacturing, packaging procurement or a comparable production environment.
- The ability to develop people, make decisions and explain priorities clearly.
- Confidence using ERP systems, reporting tools and operational purchasing processes.
- Very good German, good English and willingness to travel for approximately 10% of working time, mainly within Germany.
Your opportunity to make an impact
You create an environment where people can act independently and know when to ask for support. Your impact shows in reliable coordination with production, clear supplier communication and a team that spots problems early. You have the opportunity to challenge routines and make practical improvements while staying close to daily supply requirements. Good leadership here means combining clear standards with an understanding of what colleagues need to deliver.
Your working arrangements
- Industry: Food manufacturing.
- Region: North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Contract: Permanent.
- Weekly hours: 40 hours.
- Start: As soon as possible or by agreement.
- Working model: Up to two remote days weekly, on-site attendance aligned with production needs.
- Benefits: 30 days annual leave; leadership development; flexible hours within operational requirements; company pension.
Apply through DP
You are applying for a specific position with a client company. Dümpelfeld Partners supports recruitment; the client company will be your employer. Its name remains confidential in the public advert. We share your full CV with the client only with your explicit consent for that disclosure. Apply through the form with your CV; no cover letter or account is required. You are welcome to include your professional focus and availability. The reference number is assigned automatically. Joining the talent pool is a separate, optional choice and is not a condition of this application. For questions about the role, contact [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Is this mainly an operational position?
It combines team leadership and process improvement with close involvement in daily operations. Key supplier decisions and negotiations remain part of the remit.
Do I need experience leading a large team?
Demonstrated leadership and the ability to develop colleagues matter most. No specific previous team size is required.
Apply now
No account and no cover letter required. The role and reference number are included automatically.
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