Company Overview

Our client is a significant chemicals distribution company with European headquarters and extensive business in North and Latin America.

Job Description

The Global Category Manager is single point of contact for the given category and is responsible for managing all procurement needs within its scope. The main objective of this role is to ensure requirements are met within the particular area of scope, leveraging global needs to maximize savings and benefits in the Procurement and define with affiliates how to maximize the gross margin of the products. Chemical categories are broad industrial but a particular emphasis is placed on chlor-alkali products. GCMs are responsible for leading and executing all procurement processes focus on Principal Relationship Management with Principals, Sourcing analysis to develop a contingency plan, Define Category Strategy and its execution and implementation aligned with the company’s affiliates.

Position Details

• Operates as a single point (or first point) of contact for all stakeholders for the category in scope;

• Develops and maintain a Business Plan and sustainable relationships with stakeholders

• Develops category strategy considering requirements from all countries as a single unit, focusing on maximizing leverage by consolidating requirements

• Prepares pipeline roll-out programs, engaging effectively with stakeholders and the market

• Requests and allocates resources to initiatives in order to deploy category strategy and supplier management activities

• Sources category and negotiate in accordance with stakeholder needs across all affiliates but ensuring maximum value and risk mitigation. This includes contract set up and management

• Negotiates technical and commercial terms with suppliers to ensure stakeholders’ needs are met and the best value for the requirement

• Manages and is accountable for supplier relationships in its area of scope. This includes: Contract Management, Performance Management and supports the Supplier Development Manager in tasks related to supplier development and strategic relationship management

• Communicates frequently and effectively with stakeholders to update progress of initiative, monitor new requirements, and gather feedback

• Advises and influences senior stakeholders on potential solutions to their requirements

• Forecasts, tracks key account metrics, and implements actions to ensure targets are met

Job Requirements

Competencies

• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills to communicate and influence different levels of the organization.

• Ownership/Accountability/Dependability: Strong sense of accountability and ability to determine actions, risks and results to get the job done.

• Leadership: Strong influencing skills and ability to lead a team towards achieving strategic objectives. Ability to coach junior members of the Procurement team. • Creativity/Innovation: Strong ability to create from concept and an ability to look for opportunities to apply new and evolving ideas, methods and approaches.

• Analytical Skills/ Problem Solving/ Decision Making: Strong solving problem skills and techniques. Ability to analyze spend data, market trends and strategy setting

• Organizational Understanding and Global Thinking: The ability to translate strategic initiatives into practical solutions and a strong understanding of the impact of market drivers on initiatives

• Planning and Organizational Skills: Strong ability to anticipate and predict internal and external changes, trends and influences to effectively allocate resources and implement appropriate initiatives. Strong ability to schedule and monitor activities to achieve organizational goals;

• Resource Management: Ability to estimate workload, team sizing, responsibility allocation and manage resources to meet targets and deadlines. Demonstrated approach of consistently focusing on minimizing expenses whilst maximizing results

• Interpersonal/Group Skills: Strong interpersonal and social skills

• Negotiation: Ability to set up negotiation strategy and effectively engage with suppliers, making sure the best value is achieved;

• Expertise and Technical Knowledge: Knowledge and understanding of Procurement within a chemical distribution context. Knowledge of Procurement processes: Category Planning, Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Relationship Management

• IT skills: Ability to use Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s / Master’s Degree in Procurement, Engineering, Business, Finance, or related subject

• Procurement Qualification is desirable (e.g. CIPS)

• At least 8 years of experience in Procurement organizations of which a minimum of 4 years of applicable experience in managing a Procurement category or a customer account.

• Fluency in English and Spanish, Portuguese is a plus