As a Junior International Sourcing Specialist (New Ingredient Development), you will act as the crucial link between our Culinary Innovation and Procurement teams. Sitting within local/regional teams, you will own the end-to-end process from food ingredient requests through to operational onboarding. You will ensure that every new culinary ingredient coming into your market drives innovation without creating operational chaos.
Lead project management for new ingredient requests across Culinary, Product, and Procurement teams
Own the workflow for new ingredient requests once handed over from Product Operations, acting as gatekeeper to ensure strict adherence to standardized processes, including progression or rejection decisions
Align with the local NID/Ingredient Specialist to ensure sourcing tasks are completed on time and in line with the critical path
Act as gatekeeper for all NID requests, ensuring only SKUs that pass Gate 2 (feasibility) progress to Culinary SKU testing
Review all new ingredient requisition proposals in market for completeness before connecting with local suppliers or handing over to Category Managers for sourcing/tender (if multi-market)
Manage stakeholder engagement and communication between local and international teams to ensure consistency in NID approach across markets
Coordinate new developments with Category Managers, sensory testing, Culinary, FSQA, and other markets
Facilitate speedy SKU onboarding while ensuring coordination of new SKU creation across markets, including reviewing existing alternatives in the global portfolio
Support Category Managers in cost-saving initiatives through improved SKU catalog management and identifying opportunities for SKU consolidation/rationalization or sourcing from existing international catalogs
Support SKU improvement initiatives with Culinary and Quality teams to optimize specifications or formulations for better ingredient performance
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong collaboration, and self-management with a team-oriented mindset
Proficiency in English and ability to interact with business leaders and vendors at a senior level
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills with a focus on continuous process improvement
Ability to lead and influence stakeholders, present ideas effectively, and facilitate discussions with multiple inputs
Experience in change management, process improvement, and risk assessment within global and hybrid working environments
Ability to create an environment that inspires data-driven, innovative solutions
Strong relationship-building skills across local and international stakeholders
Ability to leverage insights from evolving processes and continuously improve ways of working
Proven ability to manage timelines and multiple stakeholder expectations while delivering consistent results
Degree in Supply Chain, Food Science, Business, or related field, with 3–5 years of experience strictly within Food, Beverage, FMCG, or Agritech procurement. (Note: Experience in indirect procurement or marketing sourcing is not suitable for this technical role)
Apply with your CV in English.
If we see a match, you’ll have a call with one of our recruiters to share more about what you can bring to the team. Are both sides still positive? Then we proceed to the assessment stage to assess key skills required for the job.
We will be conducting interviews on an ongoing basis and will close down the position once the successful candidate has been found.