HCo Hazelnut Procurement Manager (Georgia and Azerbaijan)

Zugdidi, Chitatskari, Georgia

Company Description

Ferrero is a family-owned company with a truly progressive and global outlook and iconic brands such as Nutella®, Tic Tac®, Ferrero Rocher®, Raffaello®, Kinder Bueno® and Kinder Surprise®. As the love for our brands continues to grow, so too does our global reach. Represented in more than 50 countries, with products sold in more than 170, the Ferrero Group is loved by generations around the world. The secret to our global success? 40,000 dedicated employees who celebrate care and quality to craft a business, careers and brands we are proud of. Join us, and you could be one of them.

AgriGeorgia was established in March 2007 near the city of Zugdidi in the Samegrelo region and currently the activity is handled through 3 sites, employing approx. 130 HCs. The Company’s mission is to verify the adaptability of different hazelnut varieties to local agricultural and climatic conditions experimenting several agronomic techniques, to promote the hazelnuts development amongst local farmer and ultimately to be a reliable supplier for Ferrero reducing dependency from other suppliers/countries.

Diversity Statement

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.

About the Role:

For our AgriGeorgia team, we are looking for a Hazelnut Procurement Manager. In this role, you will be responsible for implementing the Hazelnut Sourcing strategy in Georgia and Azerbaijan, working closely with the Hazelnut Procurement Manager for Italy & Other Origins and the central Hazelnut Procurement Team.

You will report professionally to the Hazelnut Procurement Manager for Italy & Other Origins and managerially to the General Manager of AgriGeorgia. In full alignment with the Agribusiness Development, Food Safety and Quality, and Supply Chain functions at the local level, you will deploy the sourcing strategy in Georgia and Azerbaijan, assess sourcing opportunities and suppliers, monitor market dynamics, and drive growth in sourced volumes. Additionally, you will support the value chain in its continuous improvement journey and assist the local industry in achieving traceability commitments.

Who we are looking for:

• Bachelor's or master’s degree in Economics, Business Management, Agronomy, or related fields
• Preferably minimum of 5–8 years of experience in procurement or commodity trading, preferably within the agricultural trading sector
• Proven success in high-volume procurement environments and stakeholder management
• Strong leadership and stakeholder influencing skills
• Demonstrated ability to take accountability across the entire value chain
• Proactive, adaptable, and effective in conflict management
• Capable of working independently while contributing to cross-functional teams
• Proficient in SAP and Microsoft Excel (intermediate to advanced level)
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
• Flexibility regarding location and working conditions during procurement seasons
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently within Georgia and Azerbaijan

Languages:

• Fluent in the native/local language, Russian, Turkish, and English (all mandatory)
• Additional languages (e.g., Italian, Spanish, Serbian) will be considered an asset

We Offer:

• Competitive compensation
• An exciting and challenging job in an international working environment

Main Responsibilities:

• Strategic Sourcing: Contribute to defining the purchasing strategy in alignment with your manager, based on HCo Procurement guidelines. Ensure proper engagement of relevant stakeholders for smooth implementation. Regularly perform market analyses to monitor dynamics and provide structured deliverables. Continuously scout suppliers to define a proper portfolio in line with Ferrero HCo requirements.
• Budget Accountability: In alignment with management, structure budget targets for your areas of responsibility. Propose an organized and sustainable season preparation plan to meet budget targets. Perform regular follow-ups, proactively outlining risks and opportunities.
• Negotiations: Conduct negotiations in line with HCo Procurement strategies and guidelines, fully complying with internal policies.
• Contract Management: Manage the full contract lifecycle in adherence to Ferrero Group policies and responsibilities.
• Source-to-Pay (S2P): Oversee the source-to-pay process, ensuring adherence to S2P policy (from supplier registration and qualification to proper invoice posting) through specific operational KPIs.
• Supplier Management: Develop effective supplier relationship management to ensure supply and minimize risks through internal and external KPIs.
• Stakeholder Management: Proactively manage internal and external stakeholders in line with Ferrero HCo’s objectives to ensure full alignment on sourcing strategy.

How to be successful in the role and at Ferrero:

Consumers, quality and care are at the heart of everything we do. So, to be successful at Ferrero, you’ll need to be just as consumer and product centric as we are - dedicated to crafting brilliant results for consumers around the world. 
 
In AgriGeorgia, the main measure of success is to help the company in delivering increasing quantity and quality of hazelnut production, thanks to sustainable farming and out-growing practices.