Purpose of the Job
As the Category Sourcing Manager for India for the Resin category along with procurement manager for Coatings BU for India the role encompasses the following responsibilities:
- Leadership & Strategic Direction: Provide strategic direction and leadership to category sourcing in India.
- Strategy Deployment: Define and deploy strategy for managing spend of the category, driving year-on-year value and benefits.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Work with key internal stakeholders including cross-business units, R&D, and other category leads
- Supplier Management: Own and drive strategic supplier management with all the regional and global vendors
- Alignment with Corporate Goals: Steer category strategy and execution aligned with AkzoNobels corporate goals on sustainability.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensures the purchase of raw and packing materials are from approved suppliers for the site
- Acts as the first escalation interface for Coatings business (end to end)
- Updates Purchasing databases in the SAP system and Purchasing Info sheets as required
- Develop and deploy Country sourcing strategy for the category and the coatings BU.
- Represent procurement in coating business as - Procurement lead for Coatings Bus IBP
- Lead and manage strategic supplier management.
- Influence internal stakeholders and business teams strategically on a global and regional scale.
- Exhibit leadership behaviors to both the category team and suppliers.
- Implement strategic cost management through e-tenders, negotiation, and contract management.
- Ensure year-on-year value creation is in line with company and functional goals.
- Collaborate with the Category Technical Lead to develop a technical roadmap, including critical projects and initiatives.
- Build and sustain a vendor base encompassing current and prospective vendors.
- Contribute proactively to AkzoNobels Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi).
- Develop alternate raw materials with the Business Unit Technical Lead, mitigating single/sole source material at elevated risk.
- Drive end-to-end simplification of product portfolio and supplier reduction.
- Demonstrate important levels of collaboration and cooperation
Qualifications / Education
- Graduate in Science/Business/Economics/commerce/engineering.
- Master's degree in business administration or supply chain or cost management preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years experience in a strategic sourcing role with similar complexity, spend size, and geography. Total Direct procurement experience of min 12 years.
- Excellent communication skills in English.
- Proven experience in global or regional sourcing roles, change management, and leading strategic projects.
- Superior influencing skills.
General skills
- Effective communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Proficient in problem solving, project management, and team working/building.
- Ability to work under minimal supervision in a broad direction.
- Continuous Improvement of leadership ability.
- Ability to establish common ground within the organization.
Functional Skills
- Strategic sourcing, category management, advanced negotiation skills, contract management.
- Proficiency in multiple data platforms such as SAP and BI.
- Strong analytical skills: highly numerate, structured, and accurate.
- Capable of performing, understanding, and presenting detailed information analysis and evaluation.
- Flexible, agile, and stress resistant.
- Fluent in English.
- Hands-on experience with international business culture.