Senior Sourcing Merchandiser (Food)
About the Opportunity
Our client is a well-established European buying office supporting a global retail and wholesale network across international markets. Due to continued business growth, they are seeking a Senior Sourcing Merchandiser - Food Products to strengthen their Asia sourcing team.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced sourcing professional with strong food industry expertise to drive supplier development, product sourcing, vendor management, and commercial negotiations across a broad portfolio of food categories.
Reporting to the Sourcing Manager, you will play a key role in identifying innovative products, optimizing supplier performance, and ensuring sourcing strategies align with quality, compliance, sustainability, and cost objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the sourcing and procurement process for assigned food product categories across Asia.
- Identify, evaluate, and develop new suppliers, manufacturers, and processing partners.
- Conduct supplier audits, capability assessments, and risk evaluations to ensure compliance with business requirements.
- Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, payment terms, contracts, and service agreements.
- Work closely with European buying teams to understand market trends, category strategies, and customer requirements.
- Source new products and ingredients that support innovation and category growth initiatives.
- Monitor raw material trends, commodity pricing, market dynamics, and supply risks.
- Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Supply Chain teams to ensure food safety and compliance standards are met.
- Drive supplier performance through regular business reviews and KPI management.
- Resolve supply, quality, and delivery challenges while implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support sustainability and responsible sourcing programs across the supplier base.
- Travel within Asia to visit suppliers and manufacturing facilities as required.
Job Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 6-8 years of sourcing, merchandising, or category management experience within the food industry.
- Strong knowledge of food manufacturing, ingredient sourcing, private label products, or FMCG categories.
- Experience working with international retailers, buying offices, import/export businesses, or multinational food companies is highly preferred.
- Proven track record in supplier development and commercial negotiation.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret market and cost data.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Proficient in Mandarin Chinese and English
- Willingness to travel occasionally
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