Global Category Manager

Do you have strong procurement expertise combined with the ability to navigate complex cross-functional processes in a regulated production environment?

At Palsgaard, we are looking for a Global Category Manager, primarily responsible for Hydrocolloids and Starches. Based at our headquarters in Juelsminde, Denmark, you will play a key role in driving the global procurement strategy within these categories, securing, qualifying and industrializing raw materials while supporting our Innovation teams in bringing new solutions safely and efficiently from testing to production.

In this role, you will act as the bridge between Procurement, Innovation, Quality, Regulatory and Operations, ensuring that raw materials move efficiently from early testing to industrial use without compromising quality, compliance or supply security.

You will report to our Procurement Director and be part of our global procurement team of 10 people and contribute to strengthening Palsgaard’s global raw material sourcing capabilities.

Your responsibilities

• Development of global Category strategy

• Negotiations of agreements for global and regional raw materials

• Ensure supply availability, competitiveness and supplier performance

• Drive supplier qualification and approval processes together with Quality and Regulatory

• Support Innovation teams in screening and qualifying new raw materials for testing

• Facilitate the transition from pilot testing to industrial implementation

• Ensure strong governance around supplier data, specifications and change control

• Identify and mitigate supply, compliance and quality risks

• Provide market insights and costing support to internal stakeholders

• Build strong collaboration across Procurement, Innovation and Operations

Your profile

We are looking for an experienced specialist with strong commercial and technical understanding.

You likely have:

• A relevant higher education within procurement, supply chain, food science, engineering or similar

• Experience from raw material sourcing (experience in Hydrocolloids and starches will be an advantage) or technical procurement.

• Strong understanding of supplier qualification, documentation and compliance requirements

• Experience working across technical and commercial functions

• Strong analytical and stakeholder management skills

• Excellent English communication skills

Experience from food ingredients, food production, or similar regulated industries will be an advantage.

As a person, you are

• Structured and detail-oriented

• Commercially minded with strong business understanding

• Risk-aware and solution-oriented

• Collaborative and pragmatic

• Able to create clarity across complex processes

At Palsgaard, you get

• A central specialist role with global impact

• The opportunity to support innovation and industrialization across the business

• Close collaboration with highly skilled colleagues across functions

What We Offer

At Palsgaard, you will join a company with strong values and a long-term perspective. We offer:

• Attractive working conditions, including a 7th week of vacation, health insurance, massage scheme, canteen, and active employee association

• Profit sharing through an additional pension scheme

• Strong opportunities for professional and personal development

• An international working environment with global stakeholders

• A collaborative and informal culture in beautiful surroundings at Palsgaard Estate

We look forward to hearing from you:

If this position sounds like something for you, we would very much like to hear from you as soon as possible, as we review applications and invite candidates for interviews on an ongoing basis.

If you have any questions about the position, you are welcome to contact

Gunhild Nørgaard - +45 41906062