Global Category Strategy Director

Join this dynamic team focused on delivering better nutrition for every step of life’s journey

The Opportunity

A vacancy has arisen for a Global Category Strategy Director on a permanent basis. This role is responsible for defining and executing global category strategies that enable Glanbia Health & Nutrition to achieve competitive advantage, supply continuity, cost leadership, innovation enablement, and risk mitigation across key spend categories. 

• Lead the development and execution of multi-year global category strategies that drive competitive advantage, cost leadership, supply continuity, and innovation across key spend areas
• Partner cross-functionally with Procurement, R&D, Operations, Quality, Finance, and Commercial teams to align category strategies to business growth priorities and innovation roadmaps
• Own global sourcing strategies, including supplier segmentation, make vs. buy decisions, and value creation initiatives
• Drive end-to-end value across cost, quality, service, sustainability, and risk management
• Lead strategic supplier relationships, including executive engagement, performance management, and joint business planning
• Ensure supply continuity through proactive risk assessment, contingency planning, and market diversification
• Enable early supplier engagement to unlock innovation, new technologies, and capabilities
• Champion ESG, responsible sourcing, and sustainability initiatives aligned with Glanbia’s commitments
• Build and lead high-performing global category teams, strengthening capability and succession pipelines
• Act as a key strategic partner to senior leadership, providing data-driven insights and recommendations

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
• 10 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement leadership
• Significant experience in global, matrixed organizations; food, nutrition, pharma, or ingredient industries preferred
• Proven track record developing and executing global category strategies at scale
• Strong commercial and financial acumen
• Deep knowledge of global supply markets (e.g., ingredients, packaging, contract manufacturing)
• Demonstrated leadership capability managing and developing high-performing, geographically dispersed teams
• Strong influencing and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to operate at senior levels
• Experience leading complex negotiations and strategic supplier partnerships
• Data-driven decision-making capability with strong analytical skills
• Change leadership mindset with a focus on continuous improvement

If you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please apply!
 

Where and how you will work

The opportunity will be based in Chicago, IL with hybrid working arrangements available, providing flexibility and supporting work-life balance.

The opportunity to develop your career on a global stage, continuous learning through an on-demand learning platform, and a competitive compensation package including staff discounts, generous family leave policy, health & dental plan, competitive salary, and 401K.

Glanbia is a better nutrition company with three divisions: Performance Nutrition, Health & Nutrition and Dairy Nutrition. Collectively and with our partners we offer an incredible breadth of expertise in nutrition. We employ a team of 5,800 people, work with global food and beverage companies, and sell our award-winning and market-leading brands and ingredients in more than 100 countries worldwide.
 

At Glanbia, we celebrate diversity, because we know that our individual strengths make us stronger together. We welcome and encourage interest from a variety of candidates; we will give your application consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

At Glanbia, our culture celebrates individuality, knowing that together we are more.

Compensation for roles at Glanbia varies depending on a wide range of factors including but not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set and level of experience.  Glanbia provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired in IL. This range may not be applicable to other locations. Factors that could be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, years of experience and comparison to current employees already in this role. The typical candidate is hired below midpoint of the range.  The annual salary for IL based employees for this role is $160,000 to $220,00 plus annual bonus eligibility.