Procurement Manager - Packaging - Wood Feedstock - Europe

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:

Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world.

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.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE:

· Develop, implement, and execute Unilever procurement sourcing strategies for all of Wood Based feedstocks across Europe and the Americas.

· Manage a spend of ~400 mEUR spanning across corrugated packaging, folding cartons, and paper tubs & lids (much of this spend is controlled by paper convertors, so only a portion of the spend is bought directly).

· Monitor feedstock capacity and capability at suppliers in line with the business plan to assure continuity of supply.

· Lead a team of one WL1s based in India.

· Work alongside the Asia, Africa, NALI, and Arabia Wood Based Feedstock team to operate as one global feedstock team with one global feedstock sourcing strategy.

· Work alongside the global Wood Based Packaging procurement team effectively integrating feedstock and conversion as one team.

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

· Lead and support global and/or regional negotiations.

· Focus on unlocking and rolling out effective use of the right to buy feedstocks with our Wood Based packaging convertors.

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

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

· To support Unilever NDPE (Non-deforestation, peat or exploitation of people) commitment by sourcing FSC and PEFC certified paper feedstock and drive traceability on the supply chain.

· Deliver net productivity (cost savings/value creation).

· Identify and implement value chain intervention projects to bring the next level of value and efficiency to Unilever’s supply chain, when appropriate.

· To create and manage strategic supplier relationships and develop Unilever as a partner of choice.

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

· Ensure resilient material supply chains are embedded into our sourcing strategies.

· To manage and reduce overall complexity within the portfolio.

· Adopt and deploy the digital agenda in your portfolio.

· Ensure proper levels of supplier service and quality are maintained.

· Behave as a key interface between supplier and Unilever and demonstrate the value procurement adds to the business.

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

· Support on regulatory related topics that may impact the portfolio and business.

· Support escalations of service and quality issues (e.g. crisis management) involving stakeholders as needed.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Experience & Qualifications:

· University degree in Business Management, Supply Chain Management, Engineering or relatable subject.

· Minimum seven years experience in procurement and supply chain.

· Industry experience and knowledge, while not a requirement, is a plus!

· A proven track record of success in procurement and negotiations.

· Experience working with long term business strategies.

· Pro-active and complex stakeholder management and communication across ranks and functions.

Skills:

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

· Strong analytics skills including a deep knowledge of Excel.

· Adept at working in a global virtual network with teammates and suppliers based around the world.

· Professional negotiation models and techniques.

· Basic understanding of finance.

· 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.

SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviours

• PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed.
• PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.
• CONSUMER & CUSTOMER LOVE: Brings the voice of the consumer into everything we do, always.
• PURPOSEFUL IMPACT: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever. 
• AGILITY: Explores the world around them, continually learning and developing their skills.
• TALENT CATALYST: Inspire people to grow, with support and honesty.

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.

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.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.