Job Summary:
This role is responsible for:
- Sourcing, managing and developing product category groups for deSter, mainly related to sustainable and fiber based products in Europe
- Implementing the category strategy established by the procurement director and category manager
- Implementing all aspects of strategic regional sourcing, supplier relationship management, explore cost saving opportunities, product development, handling RFI/RFQ/RFP, tender, contract negotiation, ad-hoc projects assigned by the group
- Co-ordinating and managing quality claims with suppliers
- Managing internal customer inquiries with fast responses
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
- Identify and implement new sources for deSter for sustainable and fiber based products in Europe
- Develop the supplier base in the region to deliver a competitive advantage to the company
- Manage the product/specification development process to ensure competitive cost position is maintained
- Plan, implement, track and control the cost of products within assigned portfolio
- Budget, define, deliver and track savings targets in the area of responsibility; initiate and steer corrective actions in case of deviations
- Deliver savings opportunities and benchmarking of industry standards and practices to identify quick win and long term opportunities
- Proactively develop procedures to reduce procurement and business risk as appropriate
- Lead and manage through corrective action any quality issues that arise for assigned sub-categories acting as key point of contact with supplier and settling claims & improvement plans as appropriate
- Manage & implement process optimization improvement initiatives within the supply base and product development projects for new and customized designed equipment lines to deliver new, competitive products to market
- Support the provision of procurement services to the wider deSter organization
- Work collaboratively with the procurement team and internal clients to ensure the delivery of a high quality, compliant, cost focused procurement process.
Principal Accountabilities:
DEMAND MANAGEMENT (Customer Market)
- Develop the supplier portfolio to enable a competitive, quality & timely response to the customer market
- Ensure constant monitoring of the market in Europe for all products within our portfolio
- Support sales activities through the delivery of competitive products and suppliers and consultancy on demand levers including key campaigns as assigned
- Coordinate product development & improve level of responsiveness depending on change request scale, scope
- Review processes & systems, suggest ways of improving on quality in response
- Review reasons for lost business & working with supply sources to improve total cost knowledge including process, specification and supply chain improvements
DATA MANAGEMENT
- Engage, and leverage knowledge of own organization and suppliers to deploy specification and demand levers and generate innovations from the supply market
- Maintain Systems data in line with portfolio assigned
- Maintain data and report progress by category & sub categories
- Manage the interface between Category Manager and internal stakeholder activities received via the CPCC including allocation of activity and governance within assigned team
STRATEGIC SOURCING
- Implement the Global Procurement strategy and integrate this into the Region by category group assigned in alignment with company policy, procedures and the relevant interfaces in order to support the timely and qualitative execution of the business strategy
- Develop and execute appropriate regional/national supply strategies in cross-functional teams, ensuring implementation of results (suppliers, contracts)
- Continuously extend understanding of current and potential suppliers, market structure, commodity forecasts, competitive dynamics, trends and demand management levers
- Negotiate with suppliers to ensure best cost according to specification and quality to the market
- Establish contacts to key suppliers regionally; monitor and enhance ongoing performance of these partners; steer the contracting of related product portfolio processes
- Guide & implement the transition of new supplier introductions managing all stakeholders affected to ensure successful launch including production to specification
- Increase leverage and economies of scale through supplier segmentation & consolidation
- Support and implement inventory reduction initiatives with suppliers to support the delivery of company targets
MAJOR CHALLENGES
- Establish, rationalize & develop a regional supply base
- Deliver rapid margin improvement in all sub-categories, with total cost approach
- Implement & optimize vendor conditions
Qualifications
Education:
- University Graduate in business, procurement, supply chain or related disciplines
Work Experience:
- At least 3 years of relevant (international) procurement and sourcing experience
- Experience on handling sustainable and fiber based products or relevant products knowledge
- Sourcing vendors in different countries
Technical Skills: (Certification, Licenses and Registration)
- Advanced literacy in MS office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
Other Skills:
- Competencies:
• Excellent communication skills
• Negotiation skills
• High service level orientation
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with individuals and in cross-functional teams
• Result oriented and flexible personality
• Ability to work under pressure and a problem-solving attitude
• Concentrated and precise working
• Proactive, dynamic personality
• Mature and positive thinking
• Strong customer focus
• Able to cope with fast pace working environment
• Good time-management
- Language Skill requirements:
• Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese
Job Dimensions
- Geographical Responsibility: Europe
- Type of Employment: Full time
- Travel %: Travel is part of the job, to seek best opportunities
Internal Relationships:
- Sales
- Customer Service
- Product management
- Finance
- CPCC
- Manufacturing
- Global Procurement teams
External Relationships:
- Vendors
- Customers
Organization Structure
- Direct Line Manager (Title): Procurement Director
gategroup Competencies Required to be Successful in the Job:
- Thinking – Information Search and analysis & problem resolution skills
- Engaging – Understanding others, Team Leadership and Developing People
- Inspiring – Influencing and building relationships, Motivating and Inspiring, Communicating effectively
- Achieving – Delivering business results under pressure, Championing Performance Improvement and Customer Focus
Demonstrated Values to be Successful in the Position
Employees at gategroup are expected to live our Values of Excellence, Integrity, Passion and Accountability. To demonstrate these Values, we expect to observe the following from everyone:
- We treat each other with respect and we act with integrity
- We communicate and keep each other informed
- We put our heads together to problem solve and deliver excellence as a team
- We have passion for our work and we pay attention to the little details
- We foster an environment of accountability, take responsibility for our actions and learn from our mistakes
- We do what we say we will do, when we say we are going to do it
- We care about our coworkers, always taking an opportunity to make someone’s day better
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the job being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. gategroup reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Candidates may be required to go through pre-employment drug screen, criminal check and/or airport fingerprinting.
gategroup – an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to workforce diversity and actively encourage all qualified persons to seek employment with us, including, but not limited to, racial and ethnic minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities.
