Procurement Category Manager - Packaging

Role overview

GBfoods Africa operates across more than 24 countries and is headquartered regionally in Accra, Ghana. The company’s purpose, “Celebrating local flavours,” reflects its commitment to supporting local communities and preserving the authentic taste of the brands that have been part of kitchens and local culture for generations.

Reporting to the Procurement Director for Africa, the Category Manager - Packaging will shape and deliver the packaging category plan across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons. This role is centered on building procurement value through market insight, cost optimization, scale advantages, supply-risk control, strong supplier partnerships, and packaging innovation with sustainability in mind.

Key responsibilities

• Create and execute the sourcing plan for packaging over short, medium, and long-term periods using category management best practices and business priorities.
• Track international trends affecting packaging inputs such as paper, plastics, aluminum, glass, resins, and additives.
• Build models that improve visibility into packaging supply and cost drivers.
• Develop the sourcing approach by geography, including local, regional, import, or blended supply options.
• Align procurement coverage and sourcing plans with key internal stakeholders.
• Manage category budgets, track savings outcomes, and control deviations from plan.
• Maintain clear total cost of ownership visibility for all packaging materials.
• Prepare for and respond to disruptions such as regulatory shifts, import restrictions, duty changes, market volatility, or force majeure events to keep supply stable and costs competitive.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure packaging strategy supports overall business goals and value creation.
• Promote packaging innovation and sustainable sourcing with suppliers and R&D, including eco-design, downgauging, recyclability, and mono-material solutions.
• Lead supplier relationship management for critical and strategic suppliers.
• Set up governance, controls, and transparent processes to ensure compliance and strong procurement execution across Africa in line with group standards.
• Handle supplier negotiations, contracts, and commercial agreements for packaging categories.
• Coordinate rollout of category strategies with country procurement teams.
• Support new product development, product renovation, and value-creation projects from a packaging sourcing perspective.
• Manage critical suppliers and work with local teams to secure business continuity.

Candidate profile

The ideal person is highly committed, action-driven, analytical, detail-oriented, and able to solve problems effectively. Strong relationship-building skills and the willingness to take on both opportunities and challenges in the role are important.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Materials Science, Economics, or a closely related discipline is required.
• At least 8 years of experience in a similar position, preferably within FMCG.
• Proven experience in packaging procurement, covering primary and secondary packaging.
• Exposure to managing regional or global suppliers and import-based sourcing.
• Good understanding of packaging cost structures and technical specifications.
• Hands-on knowledge of SAP and SAP Ariba is essential.
• Strong foundation in category management.
• A strategic mindset with the ability to influence business results through cost and supply continuity decisions.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing capability.
• Strong analytical thinking and fact-based decision-making.
• A continuous-improvement and change-oriented approach.
• Demonstrated leadership and stakeholder management ability.
• High ownership, accountability, and adaptability in a fast-changing business environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Additional information

This opportunity is with a growing multinational FMCG food business that is expanding its footprint and strengthening its portfolio of well-established brands.