Global Category manager ‘Components’

The Company

A recent merger of 2 companies active in the rubber technology business, has resulted in a new entity with over 5.000 employees, more than 25 manufacturing facilities, over 100 commercial and sales centers around the world, appr. € 800M turnover and appr. € 350M spend. The merger was initiated by the parent company of both entities (a private equity company), which is now the major shareholder in the new entity.

The Procurement organization

As a first stage in the integration of the two former companies, the new central organization is being created: the board, finance, IT, marketing, HR and procurement.

The central procurement organization now consists of 5 Global category managers, which number will grow to 7 in the near future (5 direct and 2 indirect), plus a procurement excellence team of 3, focussing on price developments in the supply market, doing analyses, e-procurement, etc. The central procurement team manages appr. 70% of total spend and reports into the newly appointed CPO (formerly CPO of one of the 2 entities).

The plan is to create regional procurement teams for APAC, Americas and EMEA that focus on tail spend, supplier performance, delivery issues, etc. They will manage appr. 20% of total spend. Local buyers are responsible for the P2P process and manage appr. 10% of spend.

Both the regional teams and the local buyers have a dotted line into the CPO.

The Board has asked the procurement team to initiate savings projects and deliver savings as soon as possible. The Procurement function has a strong mandate from the Board, to maximize value from suppliers, and to initiate cost reductions, -value enhancement and -demand management activities.

 

The Role

The Global category manager Components reports into the CPO. The category has a spend of appr. € 15M and is comprised of plastic components (Polyurethane, Nylon or PVC) both tailor made and ‘finished goods’.

At this moment the procurement of components is locally organized at all 25+ sites. E.g. the same component is procured in 4 different colours, many different hardnesses and from different suppliers. If this can be harmonized into one spec it is imminent that a major cost reduction for all plants is feasible. It is clear that the harmonization requires tenacity and a long term, strategic approach, very good stakeholder management and good political sense. Another important issue in the role is CSR/sustainability.

Key responsibilities are:

• Develop and implement category strategies to fit current and future business requirements. Understand and challenge stakeholders requirements (stakeholders are mainly the 22 plants worldwide)
• Constantly evaluate your category (what is bought, where, at what prices, supplier performance, supply risks, etc.), to identify areas of opportunity and build funnel of future opportunities. Estimate potential savings, outlining ease of capture and make a yearly sourcing plan
• Lead the implementation of the category projects in close cooperation with cross-functional project teams
• Benchmark, track savings and restart assessment cycle
• Conduct supplier performance reviews using KPI’s and enhance performance as needed
• Ensure adherence to category strategies, guidelines, policies and pricing
• Engage with stakeholders through development of sound business cases, coaching, presentations and meetings to support cost reduction initiatives (e.g., process improvements, policy setting, demand mgmt. initiatives, etc.).

10-20% travel will be involved across Europe, US, Asia.

At present the position is based in the Alkmaar/Zaanstad area, but it may in the future move to another location within Europe.

 

Your profile

• Academic degree, analytically strong
• 3-5 years sourcing experience with plastics or in a production environment related to machine building or extrusion
• Proven success in managing supplier performance (e.g. performance improvement programs)
• Experienced (project)leader and teamplayer
• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment
• Be able to operate without losing sight of ‘the big picture’
• Strong political and communication skills, experienced in stakeholder management in averse enironments
• Proficiency in English – any other language is beneficial (Dutch/ Danish/Italian)

 

Offer

• Starting salary up to € 85K annually, depending on experience and background (incl. 8% holiday allowance and a 13th month)
• Bonus scheme depending on individual performance, up to 10% of gross annual salary
• 25 + 9 vacation days
• permanent contract
• pension scheme.

 

Interested?

Please send your CV and motivation letter to cv@xentys.nl.

Additional information can be obtained from Maarten Smits van Oyen, tel. +31.6.22422161 (mobile) or Anastatia Tisoer +31.70.240 0414 (landline).