Regional Category Manager

Position:

Responsible for managing sourcing activities within specific category driving scale and standardization, maximizing value as well as reducing overall costs while improving the quality of goods purchased in their category

Serves as the business local focal point for the category(s) and ensures sourcing strategy alignment with business and other stakeholders. Develops and maintains relationships with key suppliers. Approves, negotiates, and finalizes contracts to increase value while acceptably mitigating risk. Other duties include analyzing, understanding and interpreting market dynamics, trends, and drivers as well as maintaining supplier databases.

Key Responsibilities:

• Accountable for managing a lower-complexity regional category with a spend of up to USD $50MM

• Support the development and execution of value-optimal category strategies that appropriately balance security of supply, cost, and other value factors

• Develop, maintain, and manage a supplier base that offers optimal quality, service, technology, and value

• Support negotiation and implementation of supply agreements that include ideal terms

• Conduct quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with key suppliers to advance supplier-supported company objectives, develop supplier capabilities, address gaps in supplier performance

• In collaboration with the BUs, Technology, and/or other functional stakeholders, develop and continuously evolve a cost savings/productivity plan for the category that includes a pipeline of new ideas, in-process projects, and projects accruing savings in support of exceeding annual savings goals

• Develop and effectively utilize should-cost models, market intelligence, and other value analysis tools to place the company in the best possible value position in the respective market

• Effectively address all supplier performance failures via the root cause and corrective action process, successfully levying claims, and other tactics as appropriate

• Develop and implement supply category strategies, applying best-in-class procurement processes and technology, managing special projects, driving procurement/supplier initiatives. The end result is to meet product, service, quality and overall supply requirements, and achieving cost savings objectives

• Develop and execute RFPs/RFIs

• Develop, execute and manage supplier contracts and agreements in line with QH Delegation of Authority (DOA).

• Provide leadership to drive continuous improvement in spend management processes and implemented tactics to drive compliance across the company

• Continually develop strong relationships with internal business partners across the company and stay connected with their individual business strategies and needs

• Execute the defined strategic sourcing process and drive utilization of tools and techniques aligned with the process framework and architecture

• Develop deep expertise in the spend category, shares and transfers expertise to global category managers and regional sourcing professionals. Is business focal point contact for category.

• Responsible for compliance with legal requirements, and with Company Procedures and policies (SOX, Quality, etc.). Works with local sourcing professionals to ensure alignment with local regulations, restrictions, supply chain requirements Develop and maintain company sourcing methodology and tools.

• Work effectively across business units with different objectives in the creation and implementation of procurement strategies for complex spend categories.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or University degree (Business / Chemistry / Engineering Preferred), or an equivalent mix of education and experience. Previous experience buying commodities or services in the chemical industry or similar market.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in a sourcing or similar environment with a successful track record in developing and executing supplier or customer strategies and programs basis involving supplier partnership/alliance concepts.