Regional Procurement Director | LATAM | Pet Food

Symrise is a global supplier of fragrances and flavors, cosmetic active ingredients as well as functional ingredients. Its customers include perfume, cosmetics, food and beverage manufacturers, the pharmaceutical industry and producers of dietary supplements and pet food.

With sales of around €4.9 billion in the 2025 financial year, the company is one of the world's leading providers. The Group, headquartered in Holzminden, Germany, has more than 100 locations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, the USA and Latin America.

Together with its customers, Symrise develops new ideas and market-ready concepts for products that form an indispensable part of everyday life. Economic success and corporate responsibility are inextricably linked.

Symrise - always inspiring more...

Your role

STRATEGY & BUSINESS LEADERSHIP
Define and execute the LATAM procurement strategy in alignment with global procurement objectives and regional business priorities.
Lead procurement activities across Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, ensuring alignment between local business needs and global sourcing strategies.
Partner with regional leadership teams to support business growth, operational excellence and long-term competitiveness.
Contribute to the development and deployment of global procurement initiatives, category strategies and transformation programs throughout LATAM.
Develop and maintain a regional procurement roadmap supporting cost competitiveness, supply continuity, innovation and sustainability objectives.
PROCUREMENT & SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT
Lead strategic sourcing, supplier selection, contract negotiations and supplier relationship management across all relevant categories.
Ensure procurement activities deliver the best Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), balancing cost, quality, service, innovation and supply security.
Develop and maintain strategic supplier partnerships that support business objectives and create long-term value.
Identify and qualify new suppliers to support growth, innovation, dual sourcing and risk mitigation initiatives.
Oversee supplier performance management and continuous improvement programs across the region.
RISK MANAGEMENT & SUPPLY CONTINUITY
Monitor regional and global market trends, commodity developments, supplier risks and regulatory changes that may impact business performance.
Identify, assess and mitigate supplier, commercial, operational and geopolitical risks across the LATAM supply base.
Lead supply continuity and business resilience initiatives to ensure uninterrupted operations across all LATAM manufacturing sites.
Establish and monitor supplier risk management programs aligned with Symrise procurement standards.
FINANCIAL & OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Deliver procurement savings, cost avoidance, working capital improvements and value creation initiatives.
Develop, manage and monitor procurement KPIs related to cost, quality, service, supplier performance and sustainability.
Support budgeting, forecasting and financial planning activities related to procurement and supply markets.
Drive procurement process standardization, governance and continuous improvement throughout the region.
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION
Work closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, R&D, Finance and Commercial teams to support business objectives.
Support innovation, product development and qualification projects through supplier engagement and sourcing expertise.
Ensure procurement involvement in strategic projects, capital investments and business development initiatives.
Act as the primary procurement representative within the LATAM leadership organization.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Supply Chain, Economics or a related field; MBA or postgraduate qualification is desirable.
• Significant experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing or Supply Chain, including leadership responsibility within complex, multinational manufacturing organizations.
• Proven experience leading procurement activities across multiple countries, preferably within LATAM.
• Strong experience in raw materials, ingredients and/or direct materials procurement, ideally within Pet Food, Animal Nutrition, Food Ingredients, Food & Beverage, Flavors, Chemicals or related industries.
• Demonstrated experience managing strategic suppliers, complex commercial negotiations and regional or global sourcing initiatives.
• Proven experience leading and developing multicultural and geographically dispersed teams.

Procurement & Market Expertise

• Strong expertise in strategic sourcing, category management, supplier relationship management, contract negotiation and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
• Solid understanding of raw material and commodity markets, including price drivers, availability, supply-demand dynamics and sourcing risks.
• Experience developing alternative supply sources, dual-sourcing strategies and supplier qualification programs to strengthen supply security.
• Strong supplier risk management and business continuity capabilities, particularly within manufacturing and ingredient-based supply chains.
• Ability to balance cost competitiveness, quality, food/feed safety, regulatory requirements, innovation and supply continuity.
• Experience partnering with R&D, Quality and Regulatory teams in ingredient qualification, supplier changes and innovation projects.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with demonstrated ability to deliver savings, cost avoidance, working capital improvement and broader value creation.

Languages & Mobility

• Fluent English & Spanish required.
• Availability to travel across LATAM and internationally as required.

This position will be based in Campinas, SP

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Symrise, we believe that diversity is a strength that drives innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth.

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where all people - regardless of their background, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability(ies), age, beliefs, life journey, or any other identity marker - feel respected, valued, and provided with equal opportunities to grow.

We value equity in our processes and continuously work to identify and eliminate systemic barriers that may negatively impact the experience of any employee or candidate.

For this reason, we strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIAPN+ individuals, women, people with disabilities, people aged 50+, and other groups historically underrepresented in the job market.

If you share these values and wish to be part of a team that embraces and celebrates differences, you will be very welcome on our journey.

Show more Show less