Americas Regional Indirect Materials Category Lead

Perfetti Van Melle Group; Erlanger (KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO package including vacation and pay

13 paid holidays

401k with company match up to 8%

Annual bonus potential

Maternity/Paternity leave

Membership reimbursements (Sam's Club/

Tuition-Free College Program

Candy allotments

Job summary

Perfetti Van Melle, a leading confectionery company, seeks a Regional Category Manager for Americas to lead Indirect Materials procurement. You will drive category management, supplier performance, and budget forecasting while guiding SAP Ariba implementations and regional strategy across the Americas.

The role emphasizes stakeholder engagement, financial acumen, and joint value creation with suppliers. Based in Erlanger, KY, with visibility to global procurement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in relevant field preferably procurement specialization.
• 8+ years professional experience in strategic procurement required.
• Proven experience with implementing SAP Ariba for Procurement on the process and user side of the implementation.
• Extensive knowledge of procurement processes; e.g. Order to Cash, Purchase to Pay, Catalogue Buying Systems.
• Wide knowledge of indirect procurement categories (facilities, ICT, MRO, travel, logistics) including the supplier base.
• Sustainable sourcing experience would be a plus.
• Ability to quickly build a professional network in new markets.
• Project management and well-developed negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical skills, incl. Excel, data analysis, reports generation.
• Experience in contract and risk management.
• Strong strategic business case development & stakeholder management at senior management level.
• Understanding of Source to Pay process.
• Bilingual, Spanish fluency a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead category management activities for Indirect materials in the region to maximize cost savings and procurement value.
• Support SAP Ariba implementation projects and lead procurement with processes.
• Manage relationships with vendors and engage senior stakeholders in supplier reviews.
• Leverage KPI scorecards and reports to inform supplier review processes.
• Drive sustainability and innovation with strategic suppliers.
• Support local procurement on claims, supplier agreements, and issue resolution.
• Lead budget/LE/price forecast processes in the region with quality and timelines.
• Coordinate data inputs with GPS team and regional execution categories.
• Present regional results to stakeholders and support annual budgeting.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Project management

Excel / data analysis

Spanish language

Communication skills

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in procurement or related field

Procurement certification

Tools

SAP Ariba

Job description

Perfetti Van Melle, a leading confectionery company, seeks a Regional Category Manager for Americas to lead Indirect Materials procurement. You will drive category management, supplier performance, and budget forecasting while guiding SAP Ariba implementations and regional strategy across the Americas.

The role emphasizes stakeholder engagement, financial acumen, and joint value creation with suppliers. Based in Erlanger, KY, with visibility to global procurement initiatives.