Job Description
Supplier Engagement Manager | Freelance Contract | Remote | Start ASAP
Food & FMCG · Remote · 3-Month Contract · Start ASAP
Type
Freelance / Interim Contract
Duration
3 months, full-time
Start
ASAP
Location
Fully remote – DACH timezone required
Language
English (German a plus)
Compensation
Market-rate daily fee, discussed transparently in first call
Why This Role Exists
A Berlin-based direct-to-consumer food brand is rolling out a new supplier quality process across its entire supply base of around 300 active producers across Europe.
The process framework is already defined. What’s missing is the right person to make it happen – someone who can pick up the phone, send the emails, hold suppliers accountable, and get 300 counterparts to change their behavior within a tight timeframe.
This is a hands-on execution mandate. You’ll work closely with internal Supply Chain and Quality leadership and hand over a fully documented process at the end of the engagement.
What You’ll Do
- Contact and align ~300 producing suppliers across Europe on a new Positive Release process
- Communicate clearly what is required: Certificates of Analysis (CoA) must accompany every future delivery
- Persuade, follow up, and hold suppliers accountable – with professionalism and persistence
- Document the rollout systematically and hand it over to the internal QA team in structured form
- Work directly with Supply Chain and Quality leadership throughout the engagement
What this role is not:
- You won’t be doing lab testing or quality assessments
- You won’t be building a process from scratch – the framework is defined
- You won’t be managing a team – this is an individual contributor mandate
What We’re Looking For
Must-haves:
- Experience in supplier management, procurement, or vendor management – ideally in food, FMCG, or a related supply-chain-intensive industry
- Strong communicator and negotiator – you know how to bring suppliers along, not just demand compliance
- Business-fluent English (you’ll work with European suppliers across multiple countries)
- Available immediately and able to commit to a 3-month full-time engagement
- Comfortable with a hands-on, execution-focused role without a lot of internal structure around you
Nice to have:
- German language skills
- Experience rolling out compliance processes or onboarding programs at the supplier level
- Comfortable with lightweight digital tools (Notion, Google Sheets, or similar)
This mandate is well-suited for an experienced procurement or supply chain professional who is between roles, exploring freelance work for the first time, or looking for a focused project alongside other commitments.
What You Can Expect
- A clearly scoped mandate with tangible impact – you’ll leave behind a working process
- Direct access to senior Supply Chain leadership
- A lean, fast-moving environment that values straight talk and execution over politics
- Fully remote setup, flexible within DACH business hours
How to Apply
This search is managed by an executive recruiting firm on behalf of the client. The hiring company will not be disclosed until mutual interest is established.
Send us a short intro – 3–5 sentences about your relevant background – along with your daily rate expectation. That’s all we need to get the conversation started.
