Subregional Procurement Logistics Manager - East EMEA

Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Value Creation
• Develop and implement 1-3 year Logistics category strategies aligned with business goals, including growth, innovation, ESG (including Scope 3), and end‑to‑end supply chain objectives.
• Build and execute category roadmaps with short‑, medium‑, and long‑term initiatives, unlocking value across supply and demand levers.
• Apply strategic frameworks (e.g. Kraljic Matrix, Porter's Five Forces) to understand market dynamics, cost drivers, and supplier positioning.
• Drive cross‑divisional synergies across Packaging, Paper, and Recycling.
• Stakeholder & Business Partnering
• Act as a trusted business partner to Supply Chain, Operations, and senior regional leadership.
• Align stakeholders around procurement strategies in a matrix organization.
• Lead change management and communication to successfully implement new commercial solutions.
• Market Intelligence & Risk Management
• Monitor logistics market trends, economic developments, and supplier capabilities to optimize sourcing timing and outcomes.
• Develop supplier strategies that anticipate and mitigate risks (e.g. capacity, financial stability, compliance, ESG, data security).
• Build benchmarking and index insights to forecast spend and support cost management.
• Tendering & Contract Management
• Lead end‑to‑end tendering and sourcing activities, including complex, multi‑country negotiations.
• Partner with Legal and business stakeholders to develop robust framework and project contracts.
• Embed KPIs, service standards, and health & safety requirements into contracts.
• Ensure contracts are compliant, accessible, and effectively managed through contract management systems.
• Supplier Performance & Relationship Management
• Manage and optimize the regional logistics supplier base using a defined segmentation model.
• Lead supplier performance reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure strong governance and "top‑to‑top" engagement with strategic suppliers.
• What you bring
• Strong experience in logistics procurement, ideally across transport and/or warehousing services.
• Proven ability to lead category strategies, tenders, and complex negotiations end‑to‑end.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with experience operating in a matrix organization.
• Solid understanding of logistics markets, cost drivers, and supplier risk.
• A data‑driven, structured mindset with a passion for value creation and sustainability.

Benefits

Additional Information

At DS Smith, we create value by building innovative and sustainable supply chains. As Category Manager - Logistics Procurement (EAST EMEA) , you will play a key role in shaping and delivering category strategies across all logistics spend in the EAST EMEA sub‑region, covering Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia . Reporting to the Head of Logistics Procurement , you will lead all logistics procurement activity in the region, managing an annual spend of approximately EUR 44 million . You will operate as a strategic business partner to senior stakeholders and work closely with the Logistics Category Team and the Logistics Procurement Centre of Excellence. Your mission is to deliver holistic value creation - cost, resilience, innovation, sustainability, and supplier performance - while ensuring DS Smith has a competitive and future‑ready logistics supply base.

Your Match

How well this role fits your profile.

Company Intel

What employees say

Worked at dssmith? Share your experience