Category Specialist - Procurement - HEINEKEN

Job Description

Category Specialist – Procurement

Function: Procurement
Location Edinburgh (St Andrews Sq) - hybrid with a mix of office & home working

Salary: £46,000 - £55,000 base depending on experience + performance bonus plus full benefits listed below

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: 19th March 2026

As the nation’s leading pub, cider and beer company and the name behind a host of brilliant brands, we’re looking for equally brilliant people to help us on our journey to building a better future.

Two Opportunities Available

We’re recruiting for two Category Specialist roles within our Procurement function, each offering a different focus and experience depending on background and career stage.

While both roles sit at the same grade and operate within our wider Procurement team, the day‑to‑day priorities, immediate business needs and development opportunities differ between the two positions.

Fixed Term Contract – Category Specialist, Direct Materials
This Fixed Term Contract role will sit within our Direct Materials procurement team and is focused on providing immediate operational support and delivery during a critical period for the business.

A core part of this role will be supporting delivery of the New Product Introduction (NPI) agenda, working closely with:

• our Breweries to ensure continuity of supply and operational stability
• the Marketing NPI team to enable timely and effective delivery of NPI projects
• suppliers and Global Procurement partners to ensure materials are available, contracts are in place and call‑off processes run smoothly
  
  

The overriding priority in this role is keeping the beer flowing while enabling growth through successful NPI execution.

This opportunity would suit an experienced procurement professional, ideally with FMCG and/or drinks sector experience, who is comfortable operating in an environment where Global Procurement leads strategic sourcing and buying activity.

The emphasis in this role is less on running sourcing events and more on:

• Owning and strengthening stakeholder relationships across Breweries, Marketing, Supply Chain and Operations
• Acting as a proactive interface between the business, suppliers and Global Procurement
  Maintaining strong contract management and operational governance, ensuring contracts remain valid and materials are correctly set up for call‑off
• Supporting the business through change, as elements of Direct Materials activity transition into Procurement Excellence hubs
• Taking ownership of issues, driving them through to resolution and ensuring continuity is never compromised

You’ll be expected to hit the ground running, confidently using existing systems and processes to protect supply, support NPI delivery and provide reassurance to key stakeholders.

Permanent – Category Specialist, Commerce & Business Services
We’re recruiting for a permanent position within our Commerce and Business Services category - partnering with business areas that play a critical role in enabling how we operate, engage with customers and consumers, and run our core business functions. This is a great opportunity to deepen your procurement expertise while contributing to the performance of high‑visibility, business‑critical spend areas.

In this role, you’ll be hands‑on with local sourcing, negotiation, contracting and supplier relationship management across key sub‑categories. You’ll work closely with budget owners and functional leads to shape sourcing plans that deliver value, efficiency, and innovation.

You’ll also play an active role in strategic global initiatives and programmes aligned with our Evergreen 2030 strategy, ensuring our Commerce and Business Services category remains future‑fit, sustainable, and commercially robust.

We welcome applicants at various stages of their procurement career. Depending on business needs and prior experience, you may initially support Direct Materials before transitioning fully into Commerce and Business Services.

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Demonstrates confidence in hands-on sourcing, negotiation, contracting and supplier relationship management across diverse business‑service categories
• Enjoys collaborating with a broad and varied stakeholder group across the business
• Is motivated to drive cost, innovation, and service improvements
• Is energised by contributing to global initiatives and programmes that support our Evergreen 2030 strategy
• Wants a long‑term career within Procurement with exposure to both strategic projects and operational delivery

Which role is right for you?
Both roles play an important part in strengthening our Procurement capability.

The Fixed Term Contract role is focused on delivery, operational stability and NPI support, while the Permanent role offers scope for development, capability building and longer‑term progression.

We’d encourage applicants to consider which opportunity best aligns with their experience, strengths and career aspirations, please make this clear within your cover letter.

Our Benefits
As part of the team, along with your salary, you’ll also receive;

• Discretionary Annual bonus
• Company-funded Private Medical Healthcare
• Double matched pension (up to 10%)
• 35 days holiday
• A quarterly allowance to purchase our delicious ciders and beers! (Low and no alcohol options available)
• Comprehensive Opportunities to develop.
  

You’ll also get the opportunity to get involved with one of our colleague networks, where groups of colleagues from all over the business work together to ensure we’re always working towards being a diverse and inclusive company.

Our ways of working
Heineken’s Global Purpose is to “brew the Joy of True Togetherness to inspire a better world”, and to fulfil this, we believe in working closely with each other and collaborating face-to-face when we can. To enable this, we ask colleagues to be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays and one other day of the colleague’s choice.

The application
If you like what you’ve read and are ready to brew a better career with us, let’s get going! Together with your application, please provide a cover letter outlining why we should want to meet you and what you would bring to HEINEKEN. We may close vacancies early where we receive lots of applications, so don’t delay!

If you need any adjustments made to support your application, for example, if you require information in different formats, or if you have any accessibility issues, then we’re more than happy to review our processes – please feel free to get in touch with us at recruitment@heineken.co.uk.

Who we are
We’re the world’s most international brewer and the name behind a host of brilliant beers and ciders, from Birra Moretti to Strongbow, to Cruzcampo and many more.

It’s a fantastic time to join us. We’re leading the way in low and no alcohol innovation, pioneering new technologies to meet our ambitious environmental goals and investing in our pubs to keep them at the centre of their communities.

When you join us, we’ll back you to reach your full potential. You’ll enjoy unique development opportunities, unforgettable experiences and a reward package that goes far beyond the salary you receive.

If you want to hear more about life at HEINEKEN from our colleagues, head over to LinkedIn and check out the hashtag #LifeatHEINEKENUK.

There’s no better place to untap your future. Join us and brew a better career.