Category Procurement Manager – Ice Cream Europe

Note: Deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the Job Posting End Date.

ICECREAM IS LOOKING FOR AN Category Procurement Manager – Ice Cream Europe

Location: The Netherlands (Amsterdam)

Full-time: Yes

Local conditions apply  

For the recruitment of this position, we would like to emphasize that local conditions apply to the position and for this vacancy in principle we will consider candidates based in the set locations. If you are based outside of these locations and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but at this stage we will not take your application forward. We will only consider your application if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the set locations.

If you are in the Unilever Ice Cream business or consider choosing to work for the Unilever Ice Cream business, you will work for the Global, leading Ice Cream player with €7.9bn Turn Over in 2023. The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of top 10 selling brands including Wall’s, Magnum, Ben &Jerry’s. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025.

Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure. As Ice Cream company we are committed to developing and nurturing talent within our Ice Cream company. You will have ample options for career growth and exploration, allowing you for you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organisation. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company. We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us.

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of over $8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win.

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and seem. As Ice Cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products.

JOB PURPOSE

Your role as a BU Procurement Manager is to create top and bottom-line growth and value for the Magnum Ice Cream Company and our strategic suppliers from a deep understanding of our Category strategies and deployment of our Procurement strategies in our business.

Next to this, the role involves business engagement with functions like R&D, Marketing, Finance, SC and Global Portfolio and BG Procurement as well as with suppliers.

Exceptional communication skills, stakeholder management up to WL4 & 5, bias for action, influencing, strategy development, business acumen and project management skills are key elements for successful delivery in this role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Driving and delivering Procurement relevant actions under the BU strategy and key activities like 

innovation management, forecast engagement with BU team, sustainability, whilst constantly looking for value creation through 5S, Complexity Reduction and ensuring superior availability via Resilience program for Innovation material. 

• Identify in year and longer-term material saving opportunities and delivery; secure category resources for material cost saving projects 

• Support the cluster 5S cross-functional workshop bringing in supplier value creation programs 

• Lead saving projects status and reporting for the Personal Care business unit 

• First point of contact for BU team to share and support understanding of material inflation and mitigation plans for the country to support taking decisions to drive margins up 

• Ensure early Procurement & Supplier involvement in European category innovation and supply chain projects – acts as a core team member in cross-functional team to ensure 

• OTIF delivery 

• Lead sustainability agenda such as PCR inclusion/NDPE in the business unit 

• Provide Procurement input (material and supply strategies) for decisions in the BU leadership team 

• Ownership of the new materials quotations and input into business cases 

• Ensure CAPEX requirements for moulds visibility and align with cluster SC functions 

• Ensure that projects are agreed with our suppliers, aligned with our joint business development plans and supported by the category 

• Build strong global Procurement networks to deliver fast and brilliant saving / innovation projects 

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

SKILLS & LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS REQUIRED:

• Growth Mindset (have business, organizational and cultural awareness) 

• Accountability and Responsibility 

• Passion for Sustainability 

• Drive for change in a Digital world 

• Bias for Action 

• External Orientation 

General Skills: 

• Self-Management (priority setting, risk analysis, resources) 

• Networking and relationship management / accountability 

• Outstanding communication and influencing skills 

• Take ownership and responsibility; have energy and drive 

• Analytical skills that provide clear insights for action 

• Drive results together with the team; be able to work in networks; be able to work 

• Independently 

• Be result and solution oriented; be able to solve (unexpected) problems (in short notice) 

• Working in a virtual global environment 

Procurement Skills 

• Project management skills for cost savings/innovation (including network planning, risk assessment) 

• Strategy development and implementation (e.g. translating business objectives into actionable procurement strategies and roadmaps) 

• Commercial skills for decision making (costing & capital expenditure) 

• Finance skills (P&L understanding) to be able to provide input on material inflation and communicate impacts to business stakeholders 

• Supply Market Intelligence and Analysis (e.g. establish understanding of portfolios and suppliers) 

• Managing Alliances and Relationships (e.g. managing the Ongoing Relationship to Deliver Value to the Business) 

• Partnering with Suppliers to win 

• Executing sustainability roadmaps together with portfolio teams 

Cross Supply Chain Skills 

• Developing and Executing Supply Chain Strategies aligned to Business Goals 

• Adopting a Customer Service Mindset in all our Relationships 

• Implementing Supply Chain Improvements projects, program 

• Project management skills 

RESOURCES 

• Team of 3 direct reports, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands 

• Establish clear and measurable goals that challenge the team to continuously improve 

• Lead the team to meet goals and objectives in support of the overall procurement strategy  

• Provide coaching to develop a high performing team 

EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS:   

• University Master Degree (ideally Economics, Supply Chain or Engineering)

• At least 5 years’ experience in Procurement or SC

• Experience on large-scale change management projects

• Managing stakeholders

• Good analytical skills, combined with a pro-active attitude and clear skills to enable (and in some cases lead) decision making processes.

• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently with different stakeholders involved: SUs, Suppliers, Portfolio buyers, Planners.

• Good, fast & creative in generating business opportunities on costs, E2E efficiencies

• Project management skills is a plus

• Experience in procurement and/or Supply Chain is a plus