Regional Category Manager (Packaging Material)

Company Description

For more than 265 years, JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS (JDE) is inspired by its belief that it’s amazing what can happen over a cup of coffee or tea. We are fuelled by our purpose of unleashing the possibilities of coffee and tea to create a better future. Today, our coffee & tea portfolio is available in more than 100 developed and emerging markets, through a portfolio of over 50 brands that collectively cover the entire category landscape led by leading household names such as L’OR, Jacobs, Senseo, Tassimo, Douwe Egberts, Old Town, Super, Pickwick and Moccona.

JDE is part of JDE Peet’s, the world’s largest pure-play coffee and tea company, headquartered in The Netherlands.

What’s it like to work at JDE?

We are proud of our passionate, driven associates that challenge the status quo and pursue mastery in everything they do. Our goal is simple and ambitious – JDE: A coffee & tea for every cup.

At JDE, we're Made to Stand Out. Every day we are progressive in outlook, ambitious in nature, resourceful in action and decisive in approach, bringing coffee and tea moments to everyone around the world.

Job Description

As our new Regional Category Manager for Packaging Materials, you will have a critical position within the Procurement team. Leading Regional Category Buyer and Local Buyers, you will be addressing a rapidly growing spend in the Packaging Materials portfolio. The core goals will be to lead the way to expected margin targets, manage a variety of different stakeholders who will be working with you very directly and closely, to develop and empower the Local Buyers, and to mature the category overall and prepare for future growth.

Your Main Challenges Will Be To

• Understand business requirements;
• Manage various sub-categories with the support of Global Buyers in IHQ (the Netherlands) and Local Buyers in APAC countries;
• Develop sourcing strategies for APAC region, put them in place for all portfolios and align with internal stakeholders;
• Use of sophisticated pricing models (roll-out to regions);
• Active involvement in sourcing decisions outside of APAC region;
• Be ready to integrate new business in recently acquired companies;
• Conduct negotiations with suppliers;
• Lead innovation projects;
• Develop and empower Local Buyers.
  
  

Main Responsibilities

• Create, gain business wide support for and implement category sourcing plans that quickly deliver tangible results.
• Build effective relationships engaging with stakeholders across functions and country business units that maximise value and drive continuous improvement.
• Identify and prioritise opportunities to deliver total cost of ownership savings in your categories and drive the implementation of the plans to capture those opportunities.
• Proactively manage supplier relationships to deliver cost & cash results, to drive continuous improvement and position JDE as a customer of choice.
• Measure and benchmark performance to ensure that JDE has the most competitive cost base in your category.
• Drive innovation programmes in your category to continually search for cost saving opportunities, new technologies, new products and new suppliers that contribute to the overall strategy of the business.
• Contribute on sourcing strategies development for Global categories, working closely with Global Procurement Team and execute strategies in APAC region, put them in place for all portfolios and align with internal stakeholders.
• Define and implement category strategies & targets for Regional categories, lead execution and track benefits realization.
• Establish and analyse performance metrics in order to evaluate supplier performance.
• Manage Packaging Materials supplier selection process], negotiate & contract key suppliers and administer contracts
• Manage supplier risk assessment (scanning via official tools and databases, financial assessment, etc.)
• Manage and improve key supplier performance and support quality audits to deliver (non-) financial benefits.
• Keep oversight over set of contracts within category and ensure contract compliance considering payments terms, prices, discounts & rebates and performance in close collaboration with business
• Manage transitions to key suppliers.
• Establish and maintain portfolio of strategic agreements and key supplier relationships to manage risk in procuring Packaging Materials (i.e. pricing, supply, quality, etc.).
• Oversee high level risk management activities (and gain risk management expertise) for respective category areas.
• Contribute to cost price calculations based on market and product knowledge.
• Understand the physical manufacturing process, including visiting plants to ensure guidelines are being followed, to deliver optimal goods & services to production plants.
• Manage supplier selection for Packaging Materials.
• Ensure compliance to internal policies & procedure and has a deep understanding of and manage compliance to the Combined Business Model.
  
  

Qualifications

• Preference for candidates with a further degree / MBA
• At least 5 years of relevant experience.
• An excellent track record of delivering “best in class cost and cash
  
  

results”.

• Successful experience of leading cross functional teams that focus on
  
  

the lowest total cost of ownership as a key target

• International experience in global companies (ideally FMCG)
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• The ability to thrive with ambiguity, change and minimum processes
  
  

and systems.

Additional Information

• Passionate, energetic & innovative work culture
• Outstanding Career Development Opportunities
• The best coffee and tea served all day in our office – or be your own Barista!