Assistant Procurement Manager – Customer Packaging (Senior Buyer)

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. Our strategy begins with a purpose that places consumers at the heart of everything we do: Brighten everyday life for all. Our goal is to deliver best-in-class performance with market-making, unmissably superior brands. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our collaborative, and flexible working environment. Our organizational ambition centers around creating workplaces that foster equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging across all aspects of our business.We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

ABOUT PROCUREMENT

Part of the Supply Chain family, Procurement is responsible for over 30B Euro of material and services spend globally with more than 60,000 suppliers. Getting the right services and materials, sustainably sourced and ensuring responsible procurement is critical to ensuring our brands with purpose grow. Our teams work closely with the business to understand stakeholders needs, bring innovation to meet changing consumer, employees and customers needs, and drive financial value for Unilever through competitive buying. We’re at the forefront of digital procurement, bringing new tools and analytics to drive data-based decisions. Our strategy is ‘Procurement with Purpose’ and focuses on buying responsibly, buying better, and growing together with partners around the world. Our ambition is based on three key drivers: being Purpose-Led, Value-Driven, and Future-Fit.

JOB PURPOSE:

The packaging portfolio will require an innovative thinker who can create value and think outside the box. Due to the nature of the packaging portfolio, this role has high complexity and needs structured management of many suppliers, markets, and/or packaging solutions.

Our suppliers are at the heart of everything we do. We need to work more closely than ever with suppliers to co-create sustainable practices and bigger and better initiatives with positive impact. This will be key to delivering value in this role.

As Unilever procurement adapts to the ever-dynamic business environment, we will need to be agile to continue our track record of delivery bottom and top line of our businesses.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Support a spend of ~137 m EUR of corrugated packaging in Europe

· Procurement strategy development for portfolio to support business needs

· Lead Value Chain Intervention project to ensure landing within timeline

· Develop and cultivate a proper supplier relationship management program

· Constantly identify and develop suppliers and new origins to deliver business growth and innovation priorities

· Support the Ice Cream demerger over the next 12 to 24 months.

· Ensuring supplier RSP/Quality compliance to Unilever standards

· Communicate and execute the supply strategies and maintain connections with key Business Units and Business Groups

· Execute contract negotiations, leveraging the business and digital tools for support as needed

· Contribute towards Unilever’s sustainability commitments and delivery of targets (e.g. deforestation, climate, living wage, etc.)

· Follow market conditions and lead price forecasting cycles to enable proper budgeting and cash forecasting

· Collaborate with the relevant R&D teams to ensure the technical and commercial programs are fully integrated

· Scout and qualify capable suppliers in the market for innovation projects.

· Support packaging value improvement programs such as product logic savings projects, alternative supplier approvals, and alternate material approvals

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS:

· Minimum 3 years working experience in procurement or supply chain (preferably within FMCG)

· Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience

· Experience in managing supplier relationships and leading negotiations

· Familiar with cost modeling and contracting strategies

· Basic understanding of finance

· Strong communication skills, including the ability to concisely communicate to internal and external stakeholders

· Adept at working in a global virtual network with teammates based across the world

SKILLS:

· Strong communication skills

· Strong analytics skills including a deep knowledge of Excel

· Adept at working in a global virtual network

· Professional negotiation models and techniques

· Comfort with systems such as Microsoft Office Suite, Power BI, SAP CLM, and more

· Other skills: change management, forecasting and planning processes, and market operations

LEADERSHIP:

· You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.

· As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Hybrid work and flexibility.

• Opportunities for the development and improvement of qualifications.

• Sharing the cost of professional training & courses.

• Benefits: life insurance, private medical care, pension fund, sharing the cost of sports activities, Benefits System – Cafeteria and many others.

• Extra days off to take care of yourself and others.

• Unilever store - Our products at attractive prices.

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Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity

En tant qu'employeur responsable et inclusif, Unilever est attentif à la diversité et à la mixité de ses équipes. Nos recruteurs sont engagés et veillent à l'application de processus de recrutement non-discriminants.

Tous nos postes sont ouverts aux personnes en situation de handicap et Unilever accompagne ses collaborateurs dans la mise en place d'éventuels aménagements de poste et de dispositifs d'accessibilité.