Procurement Manager

About the Company Synlait is a dynamic, purpose-driven milk nutrition company committed to "Doing Milk Differently for a Healthier World." We pride ourselves on our unique approach, fostering a culture that emphasizes innovation and fresh perspectives. Our team consists of genuine, down-to-earth individuals all working together to produce high-quality nutritional milk products. We combine expert farming practices with innovative processing techniques to serve our global customers effectively. We are dedicated to providing opportunities for career growth and development, valuing the unique experiences and perspectives each individual brings to our workplace. Our commitment to inclusivity and diversity drives innovation and contributes to our overall success. About the Role We have an exciting opportunity for a Procurement Manager to join our team at the Dunsandel site. This critical leadership position will shape and drive our procurement strategy across the organization. As the Procurement Manager, you will oversee all procurement activities, ensuring alignment with our business goals, sustainability objectives, governance frameworks, and customer needs. You will lead a high-performing, commercially focused procurement team. In this role, you will leverage your strategic and commercial leadership skills, as well as your deep understanding of procurement best practices. We are looking for someone with a proven ability to lead teams, negotiate complex contracts, and resolve supplier challenges. Your main responsibilities will include: - Building a strong, capable, and engaged procurement team that is empowered to meet company objectives and support key initiatives across the business. - Elevating the significance of the Procurement function within Synlait and fostering a culture that values critical thinking and continuous improvement. - Collaborating with senior leaders and stakeholders to connect procurement activities with business planning, performance metrics, and customer outcomes. - Managing complex supplier relationships, leading negotiations, and delivering measurable cost savings while ensuring continuity of supply and adherence to customer contracts. - Enhancing team expertise in sourcing, negotiation, contract management, and risk mitigation. - Monitoring market trends and supplier performance to identify cost-saving opportunities and drive continuous improvement. - Working closely with internal stakeholders to understand their procurement needs and provide guidance and support. - Partnering with key customers on joint procurement initiatives, including joint sourcing and reporting. - Championing strong data governance and reporting, utilizing insights to reduce risk, improve visibility, and support decision-making through well-structured business cases and continuous improvement initiatives. If you are a skilled procurement professional with a track record of managing high-performing teams and driving cost savings, we would love to hear from you. Requirements To be considered for this role, you will need: - A minimum of 10 years of experience in strategic procurement or commercial roles, ideally within manufacturing or supply chain environments. - A tertiary qualification in finance, accounting, business, or a related field, or relevant management experience. - Membership in a recognized Procurement/Supply Chain industry body (e.g., CIPS) is desirable. - A demonstrated history of developing and implementing procurement frameworks that deliver measurable value. - A proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. - Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the capacity to assess complex situations and make effective decisions. - Proven skills in building and maintaining strong relationships with senior leaders, suppliers, customers, and stakeholders. - Proficiency in strategic planning, project management, negotiation, and influencing outcomes. - Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, enabling you to drive alignment and add value across the business. Benefits At Synlait, we offer: - Health insurance coverage with partnerships that provide great benefits and discounts. - Excellent parental leave through our Matua policy. - B Corp certified practices. - Opportunities for Social Club membership. What’s Next? If you are interested in this role, please apply now. Include your most recent CV and a cover letter summarizing your abilities and what you can bring to Synlait. We encourage you to apply early, as we will be reviewing applications on a regular basis and may close the advertisement ahead of schedule. Together, we will continue to create a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute their best.