Define and implement the contract manufacturing procurement strategy for the designated region, managing risks and leveraging current/future market conditions to ensure critical supply needs are met through Co-Man solutions.
Lead, monitor, and develop Co-Man projects in the region, coordinating with multifunctional teams and collaborating closely with the Global Contract Manufacturing team.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, resolving complex commercial, quality, and service issues effectively.
Continuously monitor external marketplace dynamics, trends, and best practices to identify and implement improvement opportunities.
Develop an annual procurement plan aligned with organizational goals, objectives, and market insights.
Oversee category procurement activities, including strategic sourcing, supplier management, and contract management, utilizing the companys 7-step sourcing process.
Provide leadership during sourcing initiatives, including developing total cost of ownership models, category strategies, negotiation plans, supplier evaluation and selection, and implementation.
Streamline Source-to-Pay (S2P) processes by driving consistency and sharing best practices across business units.
Create industry cost models and analyze regional market trends to support informed decision-making.
Implement tools and reporting systems to manage categories and suppliers, such as contract management and spend management platforms.
Partner with internal stakeholders to understand business needs, gather requirements, and align them with enterprise-wide sourcing initiatives.
Proactively engage stakeholders to jointly develop category strategies and communicate market intelligence.
Manage the budget for all co-manufacturing spending in the region.
Define and track category performance metrics, including cost savings, supplier performance, and revenue growth outcomes.
Job Requirements
Education: Bachelors Degree in Supply Management, Operations, Business, or Engineering required; Masters Degree in a related field preferred.
Experience: Minimum of 10 years of business experience, including at least 6 years in Contract Manufacturing, Procurement, or Supply Chain.
Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to engage, influence, and build trust with mid- to senior-level stakeholders (internal and external), including business unit leaders and cross-functional partners.
Analytical Skills: Strong financial and data analysis capabilities with the ability to extract insights and present them effectively.
Leadership & Initiative: Self-starter with hands-on experience in designing new processes, tools, and governance frameworks; able to work independently with minimal direction.
Negotiation Skills: Skilled in developing pre-negotiation strategies and leading complex contract negotiations; solid commercial acumen with a working knowledge of contract law.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; fluency in additional languages is an asset.
Systems Knowledge: Familiarity with multiple source-to-pay platforms (e.g., COUPA, Ariba, Bravo, Maximo) and ERP systems (e.g., JDE, SAP).
Digital Procurement: Experience in applying e-Sourcing concepts and tools to procurement activities.
Regional Awareness: Strong understanding of cultural, economic, and political factors across regions (including currencies and geography).
Industry Background: Experience in Food & Beverage or Agri-business industries.
Methodologies: Exposure to Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and/or Project Management methodologies.
Project Execution: Demonstrated ability to drive and deliver large-scale, complex projects successfully
