Category Manager, Packaging

Glanbia is a better nutrition company, home to consumer brands and ingredients that help people around the world feel strong, nourished, and to perform well at any age. Our wide range of dairy and functional proteins offer superior functional properties and excellent nutritional support. US Cheese, together with our joint venture partner, is the leading supplier and marketer of American-style cheddar cheese in the US. Our global ingredient solutions business creates better, healthier and smarter nutritional and functional ingredients for healthy lifestyles. 

The Procurement Category Manager for B2B Packaging will build, implement and maintain the category strategy by identifying/driving cost savings initiatives and lowest total cost of ownership (TCO), minimizing risk and complexity, ensuring quality of product and service, and managing supplier performance. As the expert in the category, you will proactively provide insights and support to internal and external customers that ultimately drive business results.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop, implement and optimize a robust global strategy for assigned categories
• Develop the strategy in conjunction with the Director – Indirect (Facilities) and gain buy-in from the internal stakeholders globally
• Establish and lead global cross-functional sourcing teams to manage the development and implementation of the category strategy
• Ensure that the business requirements and needs of each region are well understood and incorporated into category plan and into the planning and execution of projects/initiatives
• Become a key driver or stakeholder in new innovation and product development which will have direct results on the organization’s financial bottom line
• Deliver the category strategy including sourcing activities, which generate benefits and achieve financial savings targets through insight and analysis of category and sub-categories areas, including:
• Analyze packaging spend and supply base to establish suppliers per category and subcategory
• Analyze supply markets to identify potential suppliers and market trends
• Identify of internal and external cost drivers in the category
• Develop savings opportunities and benchmarking of industry standards and practices to identify quick win opportunities
• Prepare pre-tender and tender documents in conjunction with key stakeholders
• Work closely with Key BU management and strategic suppliers to delivery leading edge technology to support BU goals
• Drive selective supplier performance and development through proactively developing and leading the team in the utilization of the Supplier Scorecard to benchmark and improve supplier performance through the frequent communication of Glanbia’s expectations and requirements
• Lead the cost savings and avoidance projects as identified and agreed in the category plan:
  • Cost Savings – Identify, pursue and track cost savings opportunities
  • Cost Avoidance – First line of defense to fight off potential cost increases and minimize purchasing cost variances

Using leading practice procurement tools; develop and implement sourcing strategies including (not inclusive):

• • Supply market positioning and supply base profiles
  • Supplier assessments and supplier financial analysis
  • Request For Information (RFI), Request for Proposal (RFP), Request For Quotation (RFQ) - RFx
  • Service level agreements
  • eAuctions, eTender
  • Summary of quotations and Cost analysis
  • Objective decision making
• Negotiate contractual agreements, using the assistance of Group Legal, with suppliers to ensure that service, quality, added value, total cost, security of supply, and the deployment of the suppliers’ capabilities in innovation are secured
• Manage and develop supplier relationships and ongoing negotiations, for the category and subcategories, using leading practice procurement tools (such as cost trend analysis, price change analysis and supplier performance reviews) to deliver breakthrough performance in cost, service and quality; keep internal customers informed and involved in ongoing supplier management
• Analyze and present costing input to build the company’s annual budget and provide important financial information such as PPV to the Finance Group
• Assist with the development of new processes, procedures and solutions for the purchasing system and identify any category specific requirements
• Work with the Regional Procurement Operations Manager or Site Manager and Packaging Engineering to implement local sourcing, local category management, and trials for items outside not covered in the total Procurement category strategies; also provide support to this team in solving major operational issues.
• Participate in a high-performance team of talented professionals in line with the Glanbia values

Education/ Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required (equivalent experience in lieu of education may be considered), with CPSM 
• 5-8 years of procurement or business experience in related industry; university degree can substitute for some work experience.
• Experience with and solid understanding of ERP/MRP systems, preferably SAP with the ability and desire to work within and progress such complex systems with eTender, SharePoint and Business Objects experience also preferred, Ariba in the cloud experience a plus
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
  • Heavy Data analysis including MS Excel pivot tables and spreadsheets to do calculations on cost potency changes, percentages, should-cost modeling, etc.

Our protein systems have transformed the bar and beverage categories — bringing increased levels of protein, cleaner labels and greater product functionality to market while delivering great tasting finished products. We have a direct presence in 21 countries, with manufacturing facilities in the US, Germany and China, and international sales and technical offices around the world.

Are you someone who likes to make it happen, make it better and make it fun? If so, our company offers you an excellent opportunity to do really interesting work and develop a career in a dynamic and innovative environment that is all about making you and our business successful. Apply now and make a difference in the world of health and wellness! Compensation for roles at Glanbia varies depending on a wide range of factors including but not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set and level of experience. The annual salary for this role is $75,000 - $90,000 plus an annual bonus. This range may not be applicable to other locations

At Glanbia, we celebrate diversity, because we know that our individual strengths make us stronger together. We welcome and encourage interest from a wide variety of candidates, and we will give your application consideration, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status. 

At Glanbia our culture will celebrate individuality, knowing that together we are more.