Category Manager

Ball Corporation; Luton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global packaging manufacturer in Luton is seeking a Regional Category Manager to oversee the supply management and lead category strategies for aluminium sourcing. The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of experience in sourcing or category management and possess a strong understanding of strategic sourcing principles. Responsibilities include managing supplier relationships and ensuring supply assurance. This role promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of progressively increasing responsibility in relevant fields.
• At least two years of experience with specific category management.
• Deep understanding of supplier relationship management principles.

Responsibilities

• Manage the supply of aluminium to assure operational needs.
• Execute the full category management lifecycle process.
• Lead regional supplier performance management including business reviews.

Skills

Sourcing

Category Management

Supply Chain Management

Negotiation

Market Analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree or advanced certification (e.g., MBA, CPM, CPSM, CPSC, PMP)

Job description

Overview

Ball is a world leader in manufacturing sustainable aluminium packaging. Achieve extraordinary things when you join our team, and make a difference in your professional development, the community, and around the globe!

Ball is thrilled to receive Newsweek's 2023 Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplace award. As a sustainable product leader, we have over 16,000 global team members. From endlessly recyclable aluminum cans and cups to aerosol bottles, our goal is to contribute to a better community, society, and world.

Position overview

The primary responsibility of the Regional Category Manager is to manage and assure supply, lead the category management lifecycle process for regional categories and support the global-led strategies for global categories. For regional categories, this role will develop the detailed supplier relationship management and business continuity plans as well as category management strategy, identify opportunities, own the category strategy implementation and execution activities, define the annual goals, and will be the primary owner of the management of the supplier relationship process. For global categories, this role will work closely with their global counterparts and regional stakeholders to ensure that the global category strategies are executed to the benefit of the company.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the supply of aluminium.
• Role will focus on supply assurance – making sure we have the goods and services required to run the business – supply/demand forecasting and contract execution.
• Input to and execution/implementation of Global strategy, RFP requirements and BCP.
• Regional supplier QBR (operational reviews/SRM).
• Regional quality issues/claims, compliance and audits.
• Role will be responsible for Annual Operating Plan (AOP) & Financial Forecast (FF) build in the region, representing all key ODMs through the quarterly cycle.
• Develops a comprehensive view of the balance between supply and demand and actively monitors market conditions on an ongoing basis in order to make informed decisions.
• Leads the full category management lifecycle process for regional categories including gathering, analyzing, and reporting on key market intelligence, developing a long-term, multi-year category strategy and development and evaluation of “go to market” strategies.
• Leverages multiple sources of market intelligence and data to make data-informed decisions.
• Has responsibility for the development and evaluation of “go to market” strategies for regional categories and can achieve creative commercial outcomes through negotiation planning and successful execution by directing cross functional teams of stakeholders.
• Able to work with and engage Global Category teams to facilitate positive outcomes for global categories.
• Leads the performance management process for regional suppliers, including regular business reviews.
• Proactively reports progress against regional sourcing goals/for the specified period.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree with master’s degree or advanced certification (e.g., MBA, CPM, CPSM, CPSC, PMP) preferred
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively increasing responsibility in Sourcing, Category Management, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Management Consulting, or business-related operations in a global environment
• At least 2 years of experience with specific category(ies) is required
• Deep understanding of category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management principles and application
• Strategic orientation, inquisitive, comfortable with ambiguity, and self-motivated to identify trends and improvement opportunities aligned with business objectives and strategic plans

Ball Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively encourage applications from everybody, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, faith, ability, or orientation.

When you join Ball you belong to a team of over 16,000 members worldwide. Our products range from infinitely recyclable aluminium cans, cups to aerosol bottles solutions that enable our customers to contribute to a better world. Each of us has a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion which is the foundation of our culture of belonging. Everyone at Ball is making a difference by doing what we love. Because what we create may change, but what we will always make is a difference.

Please note the advertised job title might vary from the job title on the contract due to local job title structure and global HR systems.

No agencies please.