Regional Category Manager-Thermoplastics

The purchasing manager is responsible for $150+ million in thermoplastic product and trading spend for NA.

Position drives corporate sourcing initiatives in NA and is directly responsible for delivering on agreed to objectives.
Person is key member of NA Procurement team and interacts closely with operations, marketing, and R&D.

Specific Responsibilities:
Identifies and Drives significant Cost Savings Programs for materials managed in NA

• Develop, manage and implement proactive strategic sourcing strategies for all NA materials managed
• Align sourcing strategies with Global Category Managers, Supervisor and other key stakeholders
• Benchmark materials on global basis in categories and works well with other regions
• Create local sourcing strategies where needed and aligned with NA procurement team’s objectives
• Communicates in an open minded and multicultural friendly environment
• Document supply/demand/capacity balances, trends and issues
• Identify, develop, and lead qualification of new suppliers to drive savings and reduce supply risk
• Actively works to reduce risk and number of single/sole source materials
• Accountable for regional category performance to deliver lowest total cost for materials managed

Conducts Negotiations, RFQ’s and Manages all aspects of Supplier Relationships

• Responsible for the selection, development and overall management of suppliers performance
• Leads negotiations with suppliers to meet sourcing strategies and key objectives
• Negotiates contracts with suppliers and works with legal to adhere to all requirements
• Manages all aspects of supplier performance
• Works closely with user plants to address supply issues and/or proactively improve supplier performance
• Monitors, tracks, and improves supplier performance consistent with global standards
• Arranges and conducts supplier audits in coordination with the QA manager(s) and global standards
• Works in a professional and ethical manner to suppliers and others at Sika

Provides timely updates to management and internal customers on managed materials

• Monitors key cost drivers for materials managed and provides monthly updates on key materials managed
• Maintain open, direct and professional communications with all departments within the organization to insure total understanding of their requirements.
• Participate in Local Expert Teams (LET’s), works with R&D and marketing within their Product areas.
• Responsible for formal presentation to the plants on a regular basis on cost reduction activities, process improvements and their implementation along with their cost benefits.

Maintains and enters information as needed in Corporate Procurement Management Systems

• Possesses a very good knowledge of SAP and follows Procurement policies and procedures
• Responsible for accuracy of information in SAP and other corporate systems
• Supports new vendor and material requests in SAP for new products, product transfers, and acquisitions
• Responsible to maintain all RFQ and supplier information in corporate databases
• Responsible to track and manage signed contracts in corporate system
• Responsible for identifying and correcting price errors in SAP and pended invoices
• Coordinate with other departments to reduce non-value added work related to procure to pay process

Travel as necessary to audit suppliers, coordinate and drive sourcing performance
Perform other work and special projects as required by supervisor

Qualifications/Experience/Education:

• Cross functional experience in purchasing chemical raw materials, sales, business management with a manufacturing or specialty company
• Education: B.S. / B. A. in Technical degree (chemistry, chemical engineering, supply chain or other discipline).
• Over 5 years procurement or sales related experience
• C.P.M. or APICS certification a plus
• Excellent communication and project management skills
• Proven track record for cost reductions and TCO
• Demonstrated leadership and negotiation skills
• Knowledge of ERP systems especially SAP

Canton

7901BR

Permanent

Procurement / Logistics / Materials Management