Your Role We are looking for a Purchasing Manager - Animal Origin to support Affinity’s ambitious growth targets in the dry and wet segments at our production site in northern Italy. You will report to the Animal Origin Category Manager and be responsible for enlarging our supplier base by negotiating contracts to secure the required volumes of animal origin ingredients, essential for the nutritional value and perceived quality of our products. What you will do Conduct market exploration to build a supplier pool for the identified list of animal origin ingredients.- - Liaise with the purchasing team to consider suppliers in existing APC (Affinity Pet Care) and Natures Menu pools.Integrate new and ramping production requirements into the procurement strategy as well as support procurement to reach suppliers Service Level required- - Support the homologation process for new suppliers via the vendor portal.- - Collaborate with the Quality team to ensure the required quality levels meet the defined ingredient specifications.- - Work with Vendor Assurance to support quality follow-ups, including incident reports and supplier surveillance within the site’s supplier pool.- Maintain continuous collaboration with the Formulation and NPD teams regarding the development of any required ingredients. What we are looking for - University Degree, Complementary education in Purchasing is highly appreciated. - At least 3 years of solid experience in the Purchasing area, particularly in the FMCG, food, or animal origin sectors. - High level of English and Italian is a must. Spanish and French are welcome. - Strong team spirit. - Excellent communication and interpersonal relationship skills. - Results-oriented with strong negotiation skills. - Efficient, hands-on, and pragmatic approach. - Proactive and flexible mindset. - International experience and/or an international mindset is highly desirable. - Availability to travel. What we offer Hybrid working model- - Flexible working hours- - Affinity University platform: Professional development opportunities for employees at different stages of their careers, acknowledging diverse career paths.- Celebrations & Fun We cultivate an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity. We firmly believe that embracing a variety of perspectives is integral to both our company’s success and the strength of our team. That’s why we are committed to providing equal opportunities for all. Our Company Affinity Petcare is more than an international petfood company. For more than 60 years, we have been dedicated to nourishing healthy bonds between dogs, cats and people to make the world a better place. We are very proud of our innovative brands which include: Ultima, Advance, Brekkies, Nature’s Variety, Nature’s Menu, Natural Trainer, Libra and more. Currently, we are over 1,200 professionals working for this purpose from Barcelona, Paris, Milan, and London, as well as 4 production sites through which we supply the 70 countries where our brands have a presence. So, what are you waiting for? Join our team to leave your footprint! Want to know more about us? Follow us on LinkedIn to get the newest updates and job opportunities. You can also follow us on Instagram to learn more about life at Affinity and hear from our team.