DO Recruitment Advisors are delighted to represent a manufacturing company in their search for Head of Supply Chain. This profile is a newly created senior leadership role, reporting to the CEO. The successful candidate will have end-to-end ownership of sourcing of raw materials along with supplier relationship management across origin markets.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

• Define and execute a multi-year sourcing strategy covering cashews, almonds, groundnuts, pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, and adjacent dried fruit categories
• Negotiate long-term supply agreements with origin-country processors and co-ops
• Build a diversified supplier base reducing concentration risk across geographies
• Implement supplier audit programmes aligned with EU food safety requirements

Commodity Trading & Risk Management

• Establish a trading desk with defined risk appetite, approved by management and board
• Manage price exposure through forward contracts, options and back-to-back positions
• Monitor global crop reports, INC statistical reviews, weather events, and trade policy changes affecting nut commodity pricing
• Identify and exploit short-term arbitrage opportunities (geographic, seasonal, quality-grade)
• Report trading positions, P&L, and risk metrics to CFO and CEO on a regular cycle

Product Expansion & Category Development

• Lead product expansion into new nut varieties, flavour profiles, roasting specifications, and packaging formats
• Partner with supermarket buyers to anticipate private label portfolio needs 12–24 months ahead
• Evaluate contract manufacturing or toll-roasting opportunities to expand capacity
• Provide market intelligence to support new customer acquisition and geographic market entry

Operations & Logistics

• Oversee container shipping, customs clearance, and bonded warehouse management
• Optimise inventory positioning between Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Luxembourg
• Drive ERP adoption within the supply chain function, ensuring data quality and process compliance
• Manage a small team of sourcing, quality, and logistics coordinators

Governance & Reporting

• Operate within the company's Authority & Approval Matrix for all procurement and trading commitments above defined thresholds
• Present sourcing and trading strategies to the Board as required for significant commitments

• Minimum 10–15 years in commodity supply chain, trading, or merchandising roles in the nuts, dried fruit, or closely adjacent soft commodities sector (spices, cocoa, coffee, oilseeds)
• University degree in Agribusiness, International Trade, Supply Chain Management, Economics, or related discipline
• Professional qualification in commodity trading or supply chain (CIPS, CTA, or equivalent) is an advantage
• Demonstrated experience managing origin-to-destination supply chains across multiple nut categories
• Hands-on commodity trading experience: understanding of physical trading mechanics, pricing, and risk management instruments
• Track record of building or growing a trading book from modest origins
• European market knowledge — particularly the retail/private label supply model and the Rotterdam/Hamburg trading hub dynamics
• Experience working for or with one of the major European nut importers, roasters, or commodity traders (Olam, Intersnack, ATCO, Catz International, Importaco/Besana, Seeberger, Kluth, or equivalent)
• Exposure to private label manufacturing supply chains serving major retailers (Lidl, ALDI, REWE, Carrefour, Delhaize, Colruyt group)
• Familiarity with SNI (Sustainable Nut Initiative) requirements and EU food safety compliance
• Entrepreneurial mindset — comfortable operating with limited infrastructure and building from scratch
• Commercial instinct — reads markets, builds relationships, closes deals
• Rigorous and process-oriented — can implement governance structures without bureaucratic exces
• Languages: fluency in English essential; French and/or German highly valuable given the company's Luxembourg base and customer geography
• Willingness to travel to origin markets (West Africa, India, SE Asia) and European trading hubs

Application process:

As an equal opportunity employer, we embrace diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Please note, however, that candidates must possess a valid Luxembourg work permit. As we represent our clients, we are required to submit only those who meet this requirement. Unfortunately, if you do not have a valid work permit, we will not be able to consider your application.

If you are selected for the position, you will be asked to provide supporting documentation, such as copies of your diplomas, proof of prior employment, and a standard criminal record check, as part of the final steps in our recruitment process.

We appreciate your interest in our company and look forward to the possibility of working together.