Fruit&Vegetable Category Manager

About the Role

Keeta is seeking a Fruit & Vegetable Category Manager to join their team in Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role involves managing the end-to-end supply chain for fresh produce, from sourcing and import operations to supply planning and cost control. The ideal candidate will have 5-10 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 across key origins (*, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Oceania, Africa).
• Conduct periodic supplier audits and performance reviews.
• Manage end-to-end import processes, including booking, documentation, customs clearance, phytosanitary compliance, and last-mile delivery coordination.
• Ensure full compliance with destination market regulations (FDA, EU health certificates, local agricultural inspection requirements, etc.).
• Collaborate with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and cold-chain logistics providers to optimize transit time and product integrity.
• Handle exception management (delays, rejections, claims) proactively.
• Develop seasonal sourcing plans based on demand forecasts, promotional calendars, and shelf-life constraints.
• Balance inventory turnover versus stock-out risk for perishable SKUs.
• 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.
• 5+ 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: seasonality, varietals, grading standards, post-harvest handling, and cold chain requirements.
• Solid understanding of international trade practices: Incoterms, letters of credit, phytosanitary certificates, and certificates of origin.
• Familiarity with customs clearance procedures and agricultural import regulations in target markets.
• Proficient in data analysis and reporting; comfortable with ERP/WMS systems.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, within a dynamic and fast-paced environment focused on fresh produce supply chain management.