YOU & AHEAD We are looking for a proactive and strategic Procurement Manager to join our fast-growing team at ahead, a food startup based in Hamburg. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and executing food and non-food sourcing strategies that drive cost efficiency, ensure supplier reliability, and support business growth. You will collaborate closely with product development, operations, campaigns and finance teams to secure the best ingredients, materials, and services for our brand YOUR TASKS New Product Sourcing: Develop and implement innovative sourcing strategies to support business objectives and ensure supply security. Supplier Identification & Selection: Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers, focusing on quality, cost competitiveness, reliability, and compliance. Supplier Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, long-term partnerships with suppliers and service providers. Cost Optimization: Analyze market trends and sourcing data to find cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality. Risk Management & Compliance: Ensure supplier adherence to legal, ethical, and sustainability standards through audits and monitoring. Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with product development, operations, and finance to align sourcing strategies with business needs and project timelines. Master Data Management: Oversee the accuracy and maintenance of supplier master data and product information to ensure data integrity across systems. YOUR SKILLS Sourcing Expertise: At least 3 years of professional experience in sourcing or procurement, ideally in the food or FMCG industry. Analytical Strength: Strong analytical skills to interpret market data and make informed sourcing decisions. Highly organized: Strong project management skills to effectively manage timelines, budgets, and cross-departmental coordination for sourcing projects from start to finish. Negotiation Talent : Excellent negotiation skills and experience in securing favorable terms with suppliers. Customer-focused: Understanding of customer expectations and ensuring sourcing choices align with these needs to contribute to satisfaction and business success. Great Relationship Builder: Ability to build and sustain strong, long-term relationships with stakeholders, with a service-oriented mindset and collaborative spirit. Language Skills : Fluent in German and English (written and spoken). AND WHY AHEAD? You already know what we do. If that's not cool, we don't know what is. But if you need more convincing, we’ve got plenty of ahead snacks and drinks in the office. Oh, and we have a ping-pong table too. Everyone wants it, we have it: The best team. Young, dynamic, international, and ambitious. Nice events and after-work activities. Can you identify with that? By the way, we're a startup: If you're looking for a greenfield, creative freedom, and a steep learning curve, you're in the right place. We provide you with top resources for rapid knowledge growth. Great product: Our low-sugar snacks are simply delicious. Have you tried them yet? Our Office: Our office is located in the heart of Hamburg. We offer the possibility of home office (2 days a week) and many other perks like a MacBook, merch, snacks, and drinks included. Cool Benefits: Enjoy monthly benefits of €50, with the option to choose from Urban Sports Club, Mobility, or vouchers from exciting brands. We recognize the value of your well-being. Team offsites: Every year we organize cool offsites with the team, and we’re already planning our next adventure. Join us and experience unforgettable offsites with the team YOUR NEXT STEPS WITH US Let’s get started Here’s what the application process looks like: Send us your resume and a few reasons why you want to be a part of ahead. We will get back to you as soon as possible to schedule an interview. After our initial meeting, you’ll work on a small case study to give you a sense of the tasks you’ll be handling. During the case presentation, you’ll have the chance to meet our Operations and Product teams and the founders, Johannes and Philip. If both sides are happy, you can start as soon as possible Just reach out to us for a chat CONTACT US Do you have any questions? Contact us here: karriereahead-nutrition.com Disclaimer ahead GmbH is an equal opportunity workplace and is devoted to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity. About us At ahead ®, we're transforming indulgent snacks into great-tasting better-for-you treats. Using innovative food technology, we replace refined sugar and empty calories with nutrients your body actually needs. With ahead, you can enjoy delicious snacks that satisfy your cravings – without compromising your health.