International Category Manager

About the Role

As the International Category Manager for Fresh Produce (PHF), you will play a pivotal role in driving our ambitious 2026+ "Refresh" strategy. You will own the end-to-end sourcing execution for a designated sub-category of fresh produce, ensuring we scale our menu and deliver unmatched freshness, variety, and value to our customers.

Anchored in our PHF vision—to source Produce that meets customer expectations of quality & convenience at the best cost—you will leverage data to execute flawlessly, assure supply, and bring innovation to our boxes. This role requires strong independent execution, a passion for operational excellence, and the ability to thrive in a high-growth environment.

What You'll Do

• Drive Value & Innovation: Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities through rigorous cost modeling and static pricing accuracy. Champion New Ingredient Development (NID) at the sub-category level to unlock variety and expand customer choice.
• Execute "Direct-to-Grower": Support our supply chain transformation by onboarding and scaling Direct-to-Grower models and utilizing central cross-docking platforms to accelerate speed-to-market.
• Build Trust & Partnerships: Foster transparent, collaborative relationships with external suppliers. Internally, act as a true "One Team" player by working hand-in-hand with FSQA (Food Safety & Quality Assurance) and SCO (Supply Chain Operations) to ensure seamless quality and operational efficiency.
• Manage Risk Proactively: Take deep ownership of seasonality planning. Manage shoulder-season risks and proactively mitigate day-to-day agricultural and climate-related disruptions to assure consistent supply.
• Track Performance & Data: Monitor supplier performance against key KPIs (Quality, OTIF, Cost) and lead regular review meetings. Maintain accurate market data and systems information (e.g., Coupa).
• Resolve Supply Issues: Act as the first point of escalation for severe supply or quality issues, working urgently with SCO and suppliers to prevent any negative impact on the customer experience.
• Champion Our "People" Culture: Demonstrate a relentless thirst for knowledge, continuously learning about the agricultural landscape, and collaborating actively across the PHF matrix.

What You'll Bring

• Experience: 3–5 years of progressive experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management, ideally within fresh produce, FMCG, or grocery retail.
• Analytical Rigor: Strong proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau). You can build robust cost models and are highly comfortable making decisions based on complex data.
• Negotiation Skills: Proven experience negotiating commercial terms, pricing, and service level agreements with suppliers.
• Agility & Resilience: A high tolerance for ambiguity and the ability to pivot quickly in a fast-paced, highly operational environment.
• Communication: Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams (Quality, Operations, Culinary) without direct authority.

To be considered for this role, you’ll need to have the independent right to work in the UK, as we're unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship at this time.

Hybrid Working Policy
We offer a hybrid working policy for eligible roles, allowing flexibility to work from home and in the office. For more details on eligibility and how this applies to the role you're applying for, please consult with your recruiter.

Next steps: Your application will be reviewed and if successful, a member of the Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch within 2 weeks.

You are required to cooperate with HelloFresh in all health and safety matters. You are responsible for ensuring you take reasonable care of your own health, and safety as well as others who may be affected by the work activities you undertake. You must report incidents immediately and actively raise health and safety-related concerns to your Line Manager. As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment, we will process Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks to the successful individual.