Regional Category Manager - Americas

Perfetti Van Melle; 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

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Regional Category Manager - Americas

Location: Erlanger, KY, US, 41018

OVERVIEW

Perfetti Van Melle (makers of Mentos, Airheads, Dentyne, Trident and Bubblicious!) is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of confectionery and chewing gum with global brands that are being enjoyed in more than 150 countries worldwide. We’re currently seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Regional Category Manager, Indirect Materials to join our growing team.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Regional Category Manager Americas—Indirect Materials is responsible for leading the category management activities for all Indirect materials within the region in a way to maximize total cost of ownership savings and procurement value contribution to the Perfetti Van Melle Group. This role will lead the Indirect Category Management activities within the region and support global Indirect Category Management activities including supply market studies, supplier scanning, negotiations, stake holder management, information sharing, reporting, budgeting, etc. This role will support SAP Ariba implementation projects and will be the lead for Procurement with processes and implementation. Additional responsibilities include:

• Manages and grows PVM’s relationships with all its vendors in consonance with Group procurement’s Vision, with special emphasis on Strategic Vendors.
• Manages supplier performance to maximize value delivered by strategic suppliers for selected categories
• Leads supplier review meetings engaging with senior supplier stakeholders to drive supplier performance in the region and manage regional performance issues
• Leverages supplier KPI scorecards and supplier performance reports to inform the supplier review process
• Brings the sustainability and innovation capabilities of strategic suppliers into PVM Group and support Group’s development in these areas
• Supports local procurement on claim handling, supplier agreements, and trouble shooting
• Leads the Budget/LE /Price Forecast processes in the region, including overall quality and timeline control
• Collects data from each OCs and verify local buyers inputs with GPS team’s support
• Responsible for delivering GPS category indices for global portfolios with regional input based on market and supplier analysis.
• Responsible for the unit rate inputs together for Global & Regional execution categories, and co-ordinate with GCM for global categories
• Responsible for overall result and presentation to stakeholders
• Supports functional budget owners to set-up annual budgets

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

• Bachelor’s degree required in relevant field preferably procurement specialization.
• Supply chain/ procurement certification or relevant would be a plus.
• 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 overall knowledge of various functional domains related to Procurement Processes; e.g. Order to Cash, Purchase to Pay, Catalogue Buying Systems and Supplier Market Places.
• Wide and Deep knowledge of relevant 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 generating etc.
• Experience in contract and risk management
• Strong strategic business case development & stakeholder management / presentation / communication skills at senior management level
• Understanding of Source to Pay process.
• Bilingual, Spanish fluency a plus.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Perfetti Van Melle, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, where all individuals, regardless of background or identity, are valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives to the sweet success of our candy-loving community. Additionally, we have a core value of Care For Our People and we are proud to offer benefit programs that support our team members' goals and well-being including:

• PTO package including vacation, wellness, and pay it forward time off
• 13 paid holidays
• 401k with Company Match up to 8%, ranking in the top 1% of the country
• Annual Bonus potential and merit-based increases
• 20 weeks Maternity & 12 weeks Paternity leave options
• Sam's Club or Costco annual membership reimbursement
• Tuition-Free College Program or Free Continued Education (BA, Masters, Etc.)
• Modest monthly candy allotments (Airheads, Airheads Xtremes, and Mentos)

2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 AND 2025 NKY Magazine Best Workplace in Northern Kentucky

Perfetti Van Melle, USA is an equal opportunity/non-discrimination employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.