Technical Procurement Specialist

Ohly is the third largest yeast extract producer in the world with sites in Germany and the USA. We develop, produce and deliver high-quality yeast-based flavours and specialty powders. Ohly is part of the $17.6bn turnover Associated British Food (ABF) Group. ABF is a broad portfolio of businesses which includes Primark, Ovaltine, Twinings, AB Enzymes, and is the world's second largest producer of both sugar and baker's yeast.

ABF takes a long-term perspective on investment and performance, and stimulates entrepreneurship by giving high degrees of autonomy to operational businesses. This means that decisions are taken as close as possible to their point of impact allowing teams the freedom to act, in order to be successfully flexible and fast. ABF invests a great deal in selecting and developing the right people for Ohly and the broader ABF group of companies.

Ohly has a great opportunity for a Technical Procurement Manager to join our team in Boyceville Wisconsin USA.

We are seeking a proactive and skilled Technical Procurement Manager to lead strategic sourcing initiatives, manage supplier relationships, and support both CAPEX and indirect procurement activities. In this role, you will drive cost‑efficient solutions, strengthen supplier performance, and ensure smooth procurement operations across our organization.

In this exciting role you will:

• Lead and facilitate indirect sourcing initiatives from strategy design through implementation, delivering agreed cost and value targets.
• Serve as the lead procurement role in CAPEX projects, including tendering, supplier selection, and contract negotiation.
• Manage and execute all administrative procurement activities for indirect spend.

Technical Procurement Management

• Manage and execute sourcing for categories such as Process Equipment, Warehousing, Laboratory, Construction, MRO, and Services.
• Proactively develop and implement end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including full life cycle sourcing methods.
• Execute supplier management strategies including KPIs, Terms & Conditions, and contract governance.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to maximize business value.
• Identify and implement cost‑reduction opportunities in cooperation with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Provide procurement support across all functions, ensuring representation in business‑critical decisions.
• Develop and execute strategic project and commodity plans to completion.
• Drive supplier performance improvements in quality, cost, delivery, and service.
• Create sourcing strategies that improve cost efficiency, quality, and scalability.
• Consolidate company‑wide spend to leverage buying power with key suppliers.
• Perform spend analyses and develop cost‑reduction roadmaps.
• Lead RFP processes-requirements gathering, RFP creation, evaluation, and supplier selection.
• Negotiate contracts with key suppliers, covering cost, service, and quality requirements.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally to identify new supplier opportunities.
• Ensure all indirect suppliers and contractors comply with company policies (HSE, ABC, CSR, Code of Conduct).
• Ensure full compliance with the Source‑to‑Pay process.

Administrative Procurement Support

• Prepare procurement documentation.
• Manage orders, deliveries, invoices, and related documents.
• Handle supplier claims for all indirect categories.
• Maintain ERP material and supplier master data.
• Execute both operational and administrative procurement tasks.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare and place inquiries and orders with approved suppliers.

Special Responsibilities

• Act as Procurement Key User / Subject Matter Expert for Microsoft D365.
• Act as Procurement Key User for DocuWare.

You should have:

• Bachelor's degree (minimum requirement).
• 2-3 years of procurement experience, ideally in a technical or indirect environment.
• Experience working in a matrix organization.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead and influence others.
• Strong problem‑solving and prioritization skills.
• Solid stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross‑cultural environment.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Project management experience.
• Strategic mindset paired with hands‑on execution.
• Technical affinity and understanding of industrial environments.

We look forward to your application including information about your earliest possible start date and salary expectations!