Category Specialist - Procurement - HEINEKEN

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.

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.

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.

• 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
• 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.

Ideal candidates are experienced procurement professionals, ideally with FMCG and/or drinks sector experience, who are comfortable operating in an environment where Global Procurement leads strategic sourcing and buying activity.

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.

• 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…