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Category Manager Directs NZ

General Information

Date Published
03-Sep-2026
Advertising Ends
16-Sep-2026
ID#
16922
Role Type
Supply Chain & Logistics
Work Type
Permanent Full-Time
Workplace Type
Hybrid
Country
New Zealand
Location
Flexible Location - NZ

Position Description

About Lactalis
Lactalis New Zealand, formerly known as Fonterra Brands NZ, is now proudly part of the Lactalis Group. 

Lactalis is a French family-owned business and the world’s largest dairy company. With a presence in 50 countries, employing around 90,000 people and a range of 2,000 dairy products. Lactalis is committed to contributing to the health and well-being of consumers around the world every day. 

Here in New Zealand, Lactalis New Zealand employs more than 1,000 people across four manufacturing sites, two distribution centres and our corporate head office. We manufacture high-quality dairy products enjoyed by Kiwis and consumers around the world. 

Our business also includes NZ New Milk, a specialised nutrition and infant formula manufacturer that produces premium products for global markets. Together, we produce some of the country’s most loved dairy brands, including Anchor, Fresh ’n’ Fruity and Mainland.

Our passionate and talented team is dedicated to nurturing the future of dairy, unlocking new opportunities, and fostering innovation in nutrition and food.

The Opportunity 
Join Lactalis New Zealand at an exciting point in our journey and take ownership of the direct procurement categories that are critical to producing our much-loved dairy products. Working closely with the NZ business, key suppliers and the Oceania procurement team, you'll play a pivotal role in driving value, strengthening supply continuity and shaping the future of procurement across packaging and ingredients. Reporting to the Head of Procurement & Co-Manufacturing, you will:

  • Develop and execute category strategies for packaging and ingredients, aligned with local business requirements and regional procurement direction
  • Lead sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations and contract management activities to deliver strong commercial outcomes across critical spend categories
  • Drive value through cost optimisation, purchase price variance improvements, rebates, payment terms and total cost of ownership initiatives
  • Build trusted partnerships with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure quality, service performance and continuity of supply
  • Partner closely with Supply Chain, Operations, Quality and regional procurement teams to identify opportunities, manage risk and support business performance
 
About You 
You're a commercially savvy procurement professional who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing or FMCG environment. Equally comfortable discussing category strategy, supplier performance or market dynamics, you're someone who can balance long-term thinking with practical execution and deliver results through strong relationships and commercial acumen. In addition to this, you will have:

  • Procurement or category management experience within FMCG, food, dairy or manufacturing environments, ideally across packaging, ingredients or other direct spend categories, supported by strong technical knowledge of dairy processing; experience in the New Zealand dairy industry would be highly regarded.
  • A strong track record of developing category strategies and delivering measurable savings, commercial benefits and procurement performance improvements
  • Excellent negotiation and supplier management capabilities, with experience managing complex commercial agreements and strategic supplier relationships
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret market, spend and supplier data to support better business decisions
  • Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills, coupled with a proactive, results-focused mindset and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy

What We Offer
  • Competitive pay and benefits
  • Career development and progression opportunities within a global organisation
  • A collaborative and supportive workplace culture where your contribution makes a real impact
  • A strong commitment to safety, quality, innovation and sustainability
  • Flexible working arrangements where possible

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Lactalis NZ, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

Let’s make this your best move yet. Apply now and be part of a global business with local heart! 

About Lactalis-Mainland Dairy

Lactalis-Mainland Dairy is a global consumer business with 4,300 employees, a portfolio of iconic dairy brands, and an exciting dairy future. Formerly Fonterra’s Global Consumer and associated businesses, our brands are well known across Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East and Africa. We bring together much loved brands including Western Star, Perfect Italiano, Mainland, Anchor, Anlene, Anmum and Fernleaf - along with new career opportunities that offer unique exposure in a dynamic and evolving industry. As we become part of Lactalis, and as you navigate around our careers site, you may still see references to, or branding from, Fonterra. This is a normal part of the transition as we progressively move to our own dedicated platforms and websites. We appreciate your patience and understanding and hope this does not cause any confusion. We’re excited by the future and it’s the perfect time to help us create it.