Fruit&Vegetable Category Manager Leader

About the Role

Keeta is seeking a Fruit & Vegetable Category Manager Leader to join its team in Riyadh. This full-time position involves managing the fresh produce import supply chain, ensuring compliance, and optimizing inventory and costs. The role requires a professional with 8+ years of experience in fresh produce importing.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard overseas fruit & vegetable suppliers, ensuring alignment with quality standards and commercial requirements.
• Lead contract negotiations for pricing, volume commitments, payment terms, and quality specifications.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with growers, exporters, and trading companies from key origins.
• Conduct periodic supplier audits and performance reviews.
• Manage end-to-end import processes, including booking, documentation, customs clearance, phytosanitary compliance, and last-mile delivery.
• Ensure full compliance with destination market regulations (*, FDA, EU health certificates, local agricultural inspection requirements).
• Collaborate with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and cold-chain logistics providers to optimize transit time and product integrity.
• Handle exception management proactively, addressing delays, rejections, and claims.
• Develop seasonal sourcing plans based on demand forecasts, promotional calendars, and shelf-life constraints.
• Balance inventory turnover against stock-out risk for perishable SKUs.
• Collaborate with merchandising and category teams to align supply plans with sales targets.
• Drive cost efficiency through origin diversification, container consolidation, and negotiation leverage.
• Monitor FX exposure, freight rate fluctuations, and tariff changes, recommending mitigation strategies.
• Analyze gross margin by SKU/origin and identify improvement opportunities.
• Partner with local market operations teams to ensure assortment meets consumer preferences.
• Coordinate with QA/FS teams to enforce food safety and traceability standards.
• Provide market intelligence and pricing insights to support category strategy.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or above in Agriculture, Horticulture, International Trade, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• 8+ years of hands-on experience in fresh produce importing, preferably with a retailer, importer/distributor, or e-commerce platform.
• Proven track record managing multi-origin supply chains for fruits and/or vegetables.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-volume environment (retail/e-commerce preferred).

Technical Competencies

• Deep knowledge of fresh produce categories, including seasonality, varietals, grading standards, post-harvest handling, and cold chain requirements.
• Solid understanding of international trade practices, including Incoterms, letters of credit, phytosanitary certificates, and certificates of origin.
• Familiarity with customs clearance procedures and agricultural import regulations in target markets.
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting, with comfort using ERP/WMS systems.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, requiring a professional who can thrive in a dynamic and high-volume operational setting.

Application Process

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply to join Keeta and contribute to its fresh produce supply chain operations.