Global Category Manager Plastics

Function: HEINEKEN Global Procurement – Packaging Sub-function: Strategic Sourcing Global Packaging Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands Closing Date: 1st October 2026

What will you do as Global Category Manager Plastics?

As Global Category Manager Plastics, you will lead the global procurement strategy and commercial performance of HEINEKEN’s Plastics portfolio, covering PET Resin, Preforms, Pressure Sensitive Labels (PSL) and Closures, with approximately €190M in annual spend.

You will own end-to-end category management, from market intelligence, demand and specification challenge, sourcing strategy and complex negotiations through to contracting, supplier governance and value realisation.

In this role, you will shape cross-functional decisions, protect supply continuity, accelerate innovation and circularity, and deliver sustainable total-cost and cash impact across HEINEKEN’s global footprint.

Role & Responsibilities:

Global Category Strategy & Value Creation

• Own and continuously refresh the global Plastics category strategy, translating business priorities, supply-market dynamics, risk exposure and sustainability ambitions into a multi-year commercial roadmap.

• Own category value planning, forecasting and benefits tracking, ensuring robust baselines, Finance alignment, timely implementation and transparent reporting of savings, cash, cost avoidance and broader business value.

• Apply advanced procurement levers including should-cost modelling, clean-sheet costing, indexation, demand and specification challenge, value engineering and make-versus-buy analysis.

Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Negotiations

• Lead high-value, complex and cross-regional sourcing programmes, including tender strategy, negotiation architecture, supplier selection, contracting and implementation.

• Drive measurable total value through strategic sourcing, commercial negotiations and effective contract implementation.

• Manage commercial risk allocation and ensure sourcing decisions deliver sustainable cost and value outcomes.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build an effective global supplier portfolio and lead executive-level Supplier Relationship Management.

• Establish supplier segmentation, performance governance, innovation pipelines, resilience plans and joint value-creation agendas.

• Build strong strategic supplier relationships and proactively address commercial and operational escalations.

Supply Resilience & Risk Management

• Protect continuity of supply through structured category risk management and scenario planning.

• Develop and implement dual-sourcing strategies and contractual safeguards.

• Monitor supplier financial and operational risks and proactively mitigate potential supply disruptions.

Business Partnership & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the senior Procurement Business Partner to Packaging Development, Innovation, Sustainability, Supply Chain, Finance and regional or OpCo procurement teams.

• Influence decisions from concept through commercialisation, balancing business requirements with procurement objectives.

• Lead effectively across regions, cultures and HEINEKEN’s decentralised operating environment.

Innovation, Sustainability & Circularity

• Lead procurement input to packaging innovation and circularity programmes.

• Ensure commercial scalability, supplier readiness, intellectual-property considerations and competitive supply solutions.

• Translate sustainability ambitions and market developments into tangible procurement opportunities and value.

Global Leadership & Capability Building

• Provide functional leadership and coaching to regional and local procurement colleagues.

• Set sourcing standards, share market intelligence and drive disciplined execution across the global procurement network.

• Encourage continuous improvement and the sharing and reapplication of best practices.

What will you bring?

• University degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance or a related discipline. A Master's degree or recognised procurement qualification such as CIPS is preferred.

• 6–8+ years of progressive procurement or category management experience, with substantial ownership of complex, high-value categories in FMCG, packaging, manufacturing or a comparable international environment.

• Proven experience leading global or multi-regional sourcing programmes and complex supplier negotiations.

• Strong experience in contract implementation and delivering measurable commercial and operational outcomes.

• Advanced knowledge of strategic category management, sourcing governance, contract and commercial risk management, negotiation strategy, cost modelling and supplier relationship management.

• Strong financial and analytical capability, including total-cost-of-ownership, indexation mechanisms, commodity or feedstock economics, business cases and benefits validation.

• Working knowledge of plastics packaging markets, manufacturing economics, circularity, Scope 3 considerations and relevant regulatory developments.

• Proven ability to influence senior cross-functional stakeholders and lead through a matrix across regions, cultures and decentralised Operating Companies.

• Experience managing supplier risk, resolving commercial escalations and building executive-level supplier relationships.

• Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus.

Experience & Profile (What & How):

Shape: Think strategically, identify opportunities to shape the Plastics category and make courageous moves to drive value and support HEINEKEN’s packaging ambitions. Connect: Build strong collaborative relationships across Procurement, Packaging Development, Innovation, Sustainability, Supply Chain, Finance, suppliers, Regions and OpCos. Deliver: Focus on measurable commercial and operational outcomes, including savings, cash impact, cost avoidance, supply resilience and value creation. Develop: Embrace learning and growth, coach colleagues and drive continuous improvement across the global procurement network. Innovate: Bring curiosity and a forward-looking mindset to packaging innovation, sustainability, circularity and supplier collaboration. Analyse: Use data, cost modelling, supplier KPIs, market intelligence and financial analysis to support fact-based decision-making. Lead: Demonstrate strong matrix leadership, stakeholder influence and the ability to drive change across a complex, international environment.

The role particularly requires critical capability across global category strategy, advanced strategic sourcing and negotiation, commercial acumen and TCO, contracting and commercial risk, executive supplier relationship management, and senior stakeholder influence/business partnering.

What's in it for you? Let's uncork! 🥂

• Competitive salary: A gross monthly salary ranging from €8,173 to €11,209, based on your experience and expertise, excluding 8% holiday allowance.

• Performance-driven bonus: A bonus linked to your results, celebrating your achievements and rewarding your contribution to our success.

• Plenty of vacation time: Enjoy 20 vacation days per year, plus a flexible budget to add 10 extra days — that’s 6 weeks in total.

• Stress-free commuting: Enjoy easy travel with an NS Business Card for public transport or a reimbursement of €0.23 per km (up to 30 km per one-way trip).

• Grow with us: We offer opportunities to learn, grow and explore new career paths, both locally and globally.

• Global impact: Shape strategic packaging categories and supplier partnerships that support HEINEKEN’s growth, sustainability ambitions and global operations.

Interested?

Are you excited to shape HEINEKEN’s Global Plastics strategy and drive commercial value, supply resilience, innovation and sustainability across our packaging portfolio?

Then apply immediately by clicking the green application button and sending us an updated version of your resume.

A cover letter is not required, but we'd love to hear what motivates you to join us and why this opportunity interests you. A short note alongside your resume would be great.

We look forward to receiving your application! 📝