Buyer, Procurement

Job Summary

The Buyer is responsible for managing the end-to-end procurement process for assigned IFF manufacturing plant(s), including supplier management, sourcing activities, negotiations, purchasing execution, and contract implementation.

The role ensures continuity of supply, cost competitiveness, and operational excellence by supporting plant requirements and Procurement objectives. The Buyer works closely with Operations, Planning, Quality, Finance, Supply Chain, and other key stakeholders to manage supplier performance, mitigate supply risks, resolve operational issues, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

The Buyer supports the execution of Global Procurement strategies while managing assigned purchasing categories and ensuring compliance with procurement policies, procedures, and systems.

This role is based out of our Tilburg office and offers a hybrid work profile.

Where You’ll Make a Difference

• Manage procurement activities for assigned IFF manufacturing plant(s), ensuring timely availability of materials and services to support production needs and business continuity.

• Lead supplier evaluation, selection, and relationship management based on quality, service, cost, capability, and business requirements, while monitoring supplier performance against delivery, quality, service levels, and commercial conditions.

• Execute sourcing activities including RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, auctions, negotiations, supplier comparisons, and commercial agreements to deliver cost savings aligned with Procurement targets and business objectives.

• Support the implementation of sourcing strategies and identify opportunities for cost optimization, productivity improvements, and continuous improvement within procurement processes and supplier performance.

• Monitor market dynamics, supplier capabilities, labor rates, raw material trends, and other cost drivers impacting assigned categories.

• Ensure continuity of supply by identifying supply risks, implementing mitigation actions and business continuity plans, and managing urgent purchases, spot buys, and supply crisis situations.

• Partner closely with Planning, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and suppliers to resolve shortages, delivery delays, quality concerns, pricing discrepancies, supply constraints, blocked invoices, and prevent production disruptions.

• Support contract implementation and ensure compliance with agreed commercial terms, while maintaining accurate purchasing data, supplier information, pricing conditions, and relevant documentation in procurement systems (e.g., SAP, Ariba).

• Participate in cross-functional teams and regional/global procurement initiatives, while tracking, calculating, and reporting procurement savings and performance achievements.

What Makes You the Right Fit

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Economics, or a related field, with a minimum of 5 years of experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Purchasing, or Supply Chain.

• Experience working in a manufacturing environment, with a strong understanding of procurement processes and best practices.

• Experience in supplier management, negotiations, sourcing activities, and working with ERP systems, preferably SAP and/or Ariba.

• Six Sigma Green Belt certification would be an advantage.

• Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence suppliers and internal stakeholders.

• Ability to build effective relationships with suppliers and cross-functional teams, while working independently, prioritizing tasks, and managing multiple activities in a dynamic environment.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify improvement opportunities, make decisions, and act effectively under pressure.

• Resilience and a proactive approach to managing supply shortages, supply chain disruptions, and situations that may impact plant operations.

• Customer- and business-oriented mindset with a focus on results and continuous improvement; fluent English required, additional languages are an advantage, along with strong Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and willingness to travel up to 10%.

Why Choose Us?

• 8% holiday allowance and a attractive annual bonus scheme (AIP)

• Individual Choice Budget (IKB), which can be used flexibly (e.g., additional vacation days or monthly payout)

• 25 vacation days plus additional ADV days

• Commuting allowance (€0.23/km, up to 72 km one way) or full reimbursement of public transport (2nd class) OR lease car (role based) 

• Competitive pension scheme, company-paid disability insurance and enhanced parental leave

• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing discreet wellbeing, financial, and personal support, along with employee resource groups and year-round activities such as workshops, sports events, volunteering, and social gatherings.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more