Commodities Category Buyer - Food Ingredients

Join Oterra and help shape the future of natural food and beverages, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable world. Headquartered in Denmark, with operations across Europe, Latin America, and the United States, we are a passionate team of over 1,400 people representing 48 nationalities in 27 countries, serving 120 markets worldwide.

As the world’s leading provider of natural colors, we offer food and beverage manufacturers a true alternative to artificial colorants. Food and health are at the heart of everything we do, and every day, more than 400 million people consume a product that contains our colors. We believe nature got it right from the start.

About the Role:

We are looking for a proactive and commercially minded Commodities Category Buyer to manage strategic sourcing activities for key food ingredient categories. You will be responsible for delivering value through cost optimization, supplier performance management and close alignment with internal stakeholders across supply chain, quality, RCD and operation.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, enjoys cross- functional collaboration, and has strong experience in competitive bidding processes, including e-auctions and tenders.

Key Responsibilities:

Ø  Lead sourcing initiatives for assigned ingredient categories, focusing on cost, quality, and risk mitigation.

Ø  Run e-auctions and tendering processes to ensure competitive supplier selection and transparent negotiations.

Ø  Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define business needs and support new product development.

Ø  Manage supplier relationships, ensuring alignment on service levels, capacity, and long-term reliability.

Ø  Support contract negotiations and implementation.

Ø  Monitor market trends and pricing dynamics to proactively identify sourcing opportunities and risks.

Ø  Ensure data-driven decision-making through the use of tools, cost models and market intelligence.

Ø  Maintain procurement data and documentation in alignment with internal standards and audit requirements.

Ø  Contribute to cross-regional projects and global sourcing initiatives when relevant.

Your Background:

Ø  Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Organization Engineering, or a related field.

Ø  3–5 years of sourcing or procurement experience in food ingredients, chemicals, or manufacturing environments.

Ø  Hands-on experience with e-auctions, tenders, and competitive bidding platforms.

Ø  Strong negotiation, communication and project management skills.

Ø  Experience working in cross-functional and multicultural teams.

Ø  Proficiency in procurement systems (e.g., SAP) and Excel or analytical tools.

Ø  Advanced or fluent level of English (C1/C2), both written and spoken, is required.

Why Join Us:

Ø  Join the world’s leading company in natural color solutions, shaping the future of food through innovation, science and strong supplier collaboration.

Ø  Play a role in transforming the food industry by enabling healthier, more natural products—because we believe that nature gets it right.

Ø  Take ownership of strategic sourcing initiatives with direct impact on cost, quality, and supply security, influencing both global supply chains and regional farming communities.

Ø  Be part of a collaborative and agile environment where your ideas matter and your work contributes to real business outcomes.

Ø  Help build long-term sourcing strategies that not only meet today's needs but also anticipate tomorrow’s challenges—ensuring resilience and value creation in a changing world