Associate Category Manager, HR & Professional Services

IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products.

The Associate Category Manager, will be responsible for supporting the delivery of year-over-year savings, working capital improvements, supplier development, and collaboration with suppliers to advance IFF’s digital strategy and innovation programs.

In this role, you will manage assigned indirect spend categories within the EMEA region, developing, maintaining and executing sourcing strategies for a competitive and cost-effective portfolio of materials and services related to:

• HR

• Fleet

• Marketing & Communications

• Professional Services

You will work closely with business stakeholders and suppliers to identify value creation opportunities, deliver measurable savings, optimize supplier performance, and contribute to IFF's strategic objectives.

This position is ideal for a high-potential procurement professional who combines strong commercial acumen, a results-driven mindset, and the ability to build influential relationships across the organization.

The role is based in Asturias, Spain (hybrid role). Be part of a collaborative, strategic, and results-driven team where together we can achieve greatness and make a real impact. Your potential is our inspiration.

Where You'll Make a Difference

• Develop and execute category strategies across HR, Professional Services, Marketing & Communications, Fleet, and other indirect spend areas, ensuring alignment with business priorities and procurement objectives.
• Build category roadmaps and sourcing strategies from the ground up for emerging, fragmented, or underdeveloped spend areas, applying a strategic and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Identify, quantify, and deliver cost savings, value-creation opportunities, and process improvements while maintaining quality, service, and business continuity.
• Build strong relationships with business stakeholders, understanding their needs, influencing decisions, and ensuring adoption of procurement strategies.
• Lead sourcing projects from opportunity assessment through supplier selection, negotiation, implementation, and performance management.
• Conduct market analysis, supplier mapping, benchmarking, and spend assessments to shape category strategies and identify long-term opportunities.
• Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships that support innovation, business growth, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and contractual terms to maximize value and support organizational objectives.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, challenge the status quo, and build structured approaches in areas where processes, supplier landscapes, or category strategies are not yet fully developed.
• Collaborate closely with regional and global procurement colleagues to drive best-in-class category management practices across IFF.

What Makes You the Right Fit

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, Procurement, Marketing, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Experience managing, supporting, or sourcing within categories such as HR, Professional Services, Marketing & Communications, Fleet, Consulting, Legal, or similar indirect spend areas.
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to develop category strategies and sourcing approaches from scratch, particularly in areas where procurement structures or supplier strategies are not yet fully established.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities, challenge existing approaches, and translate business needs into actionable procurement strategies.
• Strong commercial acumen and results-oriented mindset with a demonstrated focus on delivering savings, value creation, and business impact.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to gain buy-in and build credibility across functions and organizational levels.
• Strong project management capabilities, able to lead multiple initiatives simultaneously and drive execution in a dynamic environment.
• Proactive, resilient, and ownership-driven approach, with the ability to work independently and navigate ambiguity.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage market intelligence, supplier insights, and spend data to support strategic decision-making.

How Would You Stand Out?

• Experience building category strategies, supplier ecosystems, or sourcing programs from a greenfield or highly fragmented environment.
• Proven track record of independently identifying opportunities, obtaining stakeholder buy-in, and executing strategic initiatives that deliver significant business impact.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and driving organizational change within complex, matrixed organizations.CPSM, SPSM or a related certification in supply chain or procurement excellence
• Knowledge of supplier relationship management and category management best practices.
• Fluent written and spoken English; proficiency in an additional language is a plus.

Why Choose Us?

• Join a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition.
• Work in a highly collaborative and international environment.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives with direct business impact.
• Build strong partnerships across suppliers, functions, and regions.
• Enjoy opportunities for professional development and career growth.
• Be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity, innovation, and authenticity.

Think this could be the next step in your career?

We'd love to hear from you. We understand that great candidates don't always meet every requirement listed in a job description. If you're excited by the opportunity to develop category strategies, influence business decisions, and create value across HR and Professional Services categories, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience doesn't perfectly align with every qualification. Your potential, ambition, and willingness to learn may make you the ideal fit for this role or other opportunities at IFF.

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

About Us

At IFF, we make joy through science, creativity and heart. As the global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, health and biosciences, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products – advancing wellness, delighting the senses and enhancing the human experience. We value an inclusive, creative workplace where all individuals can thrive and do their best work. We consider all qualified candidates equally and based on merit, without regard to religion, ethnicity, national origin, race, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or disability.