Reports To:                        VP Procurement

Department:                      Procurement

Location:                            West Haven, CT

Pay Status:                         (Salaried/Exempt with annual bonus potential)

Job Summary

The Procurement Category Manager for Bakery, Film and Fluid Bed ingredients 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. Being the expert in the category, the role will proactively provide insights and support to internal and external customers that ultimately drive business results.

Working collaboratively with the greater team and Group Procurement (where applicable), the role will drive the continuous improvement of Procurement performance in support of overall Global Ingredients strategy.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and optimize a robust global strategy for assigned categories
  • Develop the strategy in conjunction with the VP Procurement and gain buy-in from the internal stakeholders globally
  • Establish and lead global cross-functional strategic sourcing teams (SSTs) 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:
  • Analysis of ingredient  spend and supply base to establish suppliers per category and sub category
  • Analysis of supply markets to identify potential suppliers and market trends
  • Identification of internal and external cost drivers in the category
  • Development of savings opportunities and benchmarking of industry standards and practices to identify quick win opportunities
  • Preparation of pre-tender and tender documents in conjunction with key user departments
  • Work closely with Key BU management and strategic suppliers to delivery leading edge technology to support BU goals
• Drive supplier performance and development through proactive 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 with 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 sub categories, 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
• Foster the Glanbia Values through outstanding service and attitude
• Work with the Regional Procurement Operations Manager or Site Manager to implement local sourcing and local category management for items outside not covered in the total Procurement category strategies; also provide support to this team in solving major operational issues.
• Lead, develop, mentor and grow a high performance team of talented professionals, demonstrating superior leadership in line with the Glanbia values
• Regular attendance is an essential function of this position

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct oversight of a Category team of 0 – 3

Qualification & Experience Requirements

• University degree in related field required (equivalent experience in lieu of education may be considered), with CPSM and/or MBA preferred
• Minimum of 5-8 years of procurement or business experience in related industry; university degree can substitute for some work experience. Ingredient experience a distinct advantage.
• Working knowledge of and experience with food or fortification manufacturing environment desired
• Fluent in written and spoken English required
• 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
• Strong math skills, and knowledge of the metric system, are required
• Heavy Data analysis including MS Excel pivot tables and spreadsheets to do calculations on cost potency changes, percentages, etc

• Solid people leader that inspires and aligns the team behind key strategic objectives,  attracts top talent from the industry to build a best-in-class organization and with proven leadership skills with the following leadership principles:
  • leading by example/hands-on 
  • making team members champions: true empowerment
  • taking a personal interest in all personnel
  • giving the team members security to achieve top results
  • giving the team members security to achieve top results
• An ability to negotiate with diverse set of suppliers across multiple regions and close out senior level negotiations
• Must have demonstrably strong interpersonal skills (both written and verbal), to include speaking clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in written form with all levels of personnel within the business unit and in the wider organization, to include excellent writing, negotiation and presentation skills
• Strong business understanding and orientation and effectively handles multiple, rapidly changing and conflicting priorities
• Passionate about the business, will be a strong external ambassador / advocate for the business and will be highly collaborative with the ability to work successfully across teams, regions and functions
• Strong business understanding and orientation and effectively handles multiple, rapidly changing and conflicting priorities
• Strong cultural awareness based on past exposure, experience, and successful business dealings 
• Highly detailed with a systematic approach, sense of responsibility and positive customer focus
• Ability to excel in a highly matrixed international company structure and environment
• Possesses a passion for learning new skills

Travel Requirements

• Semi-Regular domestic and international travel to visit internal stakeholders in other regions, tradeshows, suppliers, and other events as required (20% or less).

Typical Physical Activity

• Regularly involves talking or listening, sitting, and the use of hands and fingers.
• Regularly involves going up and down stairs.
• Frequently involves reaching with hands and arms, standing and walking.
• Occasionally involves crouching, stooping, kneeling and/or climbing or balancing.
• May be exposed to moderate noise levels (i.e. office equipment, light traffic).
• May work in areas with mechanical moving parts, above ground with risk of fall, or areas with risk of electrical shock.

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.