Indirect Procurement Associate Director

About the role

The role of the Americas Indirect Procurement Associate Director is to create and drive strategic interventions on the Business Services and Advertising and Consumer Promotions (A&CP) categories primarily for North America but also for Central & Latin Americas and Brazil. This is an exciting opportunity to influence the design and strategic choices in this area building upon existing strategies and experience in a region with a very ambitious growth agenda.

Responsibilities

• Design/refine and implement new sourcing strategies and strategic interventions across indirect spend.
• Engage efficiently and structure the governance with each Market Leadership team to ensure early engagement and strategic alignment.
• Establish the procurement as an unavoidable business partner and advisor.
• Develop and ensure On-Time and In-Full execution of Indirect Procurement roadmaps for each Market in scope.
• Provide commercial leadership and lead preferred supplier selection process for key initiatives, leveraging robust knowledge of tender management.
• Implement Supplier Relation Management program and drive Year on Year improvement in quality, service, talent and value.
• Enable the use of new tools to make sourcing simpler and more efficient.
• Support business plan to improve ethical and environmental sourcing.
• Implement governance and control including contractual agreements and policies.
• Lead Indirect Procurement Team in Americas.
• Establish structured governance and engagement with Global Category Teams.
• Develop individuals’ capabilities and manage team to deliver maximum efficiency and value to business.
• Engage and influence stakeholders in Category Strategy definition and implementation.
• Ensure the ongoing training and development of self and team in procurement best practices and skills.

Qualifications

• Experience in Procurement, ideally in advertising and consumer promotion or business services spend areas, at least 8-12 years.
• Degree qualified preferably in Business, Manufacturing, Engineering or other relevant discipline. MBA is a plus.
• Work experience in an international environment and matrix organizations.
• Capable and proven track record of stakeholder management including business Leaders (internal and external).
• Experience developing and managing organizations.
• Excellent analytical skills, negotiation skills, strategic thinking and collaboration skills.
• High level of reliability, personal integrity, autonomy and ownership.
• Strategic, structured, pro-active and solution-oriented way of working.
• You are business driven, pragmatic and results-oriented.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Strong ability to communicate complex topics in concise terms to various stakeholders including C-Suite.
• High degree of fluency in written and spoken English is required, German is an asset.

Key Competencies and Demonstrated Skills

• Results oriented individual with solid proven track record in delivering value (cost and cash) and improving effectiveness of sourcing networks.
• Strategic thinking balanced with ability to execute.
• Team leader with ability to inspire, coach and develop both local and remote reports.
• Proven Collaboration, Influencing, Negotiation, Communication skills.
• Knowledge in executing sourcing of indirect and/or marketing.
• Able to detect risk areas and red flags.
• Knowledge of e-sourcing tools.
• Able to travel in support of business (0-20%).