Head of Supply Chain

Südzucker Group is an international company at home in more than 30 countries. As a leading integrated group of companies, we want to contribute to a livable, healthy and sustainable world with plant-based solutions for nutrition, energy and beyond. Around 18,000 employees work to achieve this in our five segments.

• Define and execute the integrated Group Supply Chain strategy, policies, and processes to ensure operational reliability, responsiveness, and efficiency across all production sites, co-manufacturers, warehouses, distribution centres, product lines, and geographies.
• Lead, develop, and inspire the global Supply Chain organisation, fostering a high-performance culture, transparency, collaboration, and talent development across the integrated businesses.
• Establish and drive a unified Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) framework across short-, mid-, and long-term horizons to optimise capacity utilisation, inventory, and customer service levels across BENEO and Crop Energies in close collaboration with the Supply Chain Excellence team on SZ Group level.
• Lead the implementation of a best-in-class, data-driven S&OP process based on the Group-wide Opti Chain initiative. Drive advanced forecasting capabilities, including AI-enabled planning tools, while establishing robust governance, processes, data standards, and KPIs to improve forecast accuracy, optimise inventory, and align market demand with production capacity and business objectives.
• Ensure the successful deployment and adoption of Südzucker Group digital Supply Chain solutions, including SAP TMS, SAP EWM, Logility, and future planning technologies, across BENEO and Crop Energies.
• Drive product portfolio optimisation by supporting product profitability analysis, portfolio harmonisation, and standardisation of product specifications and quality parameters to simplify operations, strengthen competitiveness, and maximise value creation.
• Define, monitor, and continuously improve global Supply Chain performance through a comprehensive KPI framework, ensuring operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement across the Group.
• Lead the harmonisation and optimisation of logistics, warehousing, transportation, and third-party logistics (3PL) operations to leverage synergies, improve cost efficiency, and maintain outstanding customer service.
• Develop and oversee risk-based Supply Chain management and business continuity strategies to strengthen resilience, mitigate disruptions, and safeguard critical operations.
• Contribute to the Group's strategic planning process by supporting five-year business plans, CAPEX and OPEX planning, and investment decisions while ensuring alignment with financial, regulatory, and sustainability objectives.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Board and Product Line leaders, ensuring the Supply Chain function actively contributes to the long-term growth, profitability, and success of the BENEO and Crop Energies partnership.
• Optimise end-to-end value chain performance by synchronising market demand, production planning, inventory management, and supply capabilities to maximise service levels, minimise waste, improve working capital, and enhance overall business performance.

• Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Engineering, or a related technical or scientific discipline.
• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in global end-to-end Supply Chain management within an international manufacturing environment, preferably in the food ingredients, bio-based products, or process industries (e.g. ethanol or chemicals).

Südzucker promotes diversity! All employees (m/f/d) are welcome at our company, regardless of gender, cultural, religious or social background, sexual orientation or identity, origin or disability.

Ralf Gutschoven