Category Procurement Manager

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About the role

This Category Procurement Manager is responsible for partnering with the broader engineering function and site maintenance teams accountable for delivering CAPEX projects in our business, to develop strategies for supply of CAPEX & OPEX requirements into our sites and warehouses, and to implement and maintain best practices to ensure the best possible cost - while meeting the unique service needs of our customers.

This CPM will have accountability for $200MM/year + of category spend and is responsible for collaborating with cross functional partners to develop and execute strategies for the company’s CAPEX & OPEX spend across our 50+ sites in North America (US & Canada). Reporting to the IMAS Procurement Director, the Manager actively leads the strategic sourcing activities for the America’s Region (in collaboration with the engineering function) with the goal of achieving cost reductions, implementing robust process, and maintaining/improving vendor service levels. This position leads execution of regional & global strategies and is accountable for implementation of cost optimization initiatives (PIPs).

 

 

 

Key responsibilities

 

•  Leads category sourcing activities for CAPEX & OPEX

•  Supports category sourcing activities in the America’s Region for other aspects of IMAS spend as needed.

•  Reviews requirements from internal and external customers to determine key supplier characteristics.

•  Analyzes market conditions to determine present and future pricing and supply, prepares market summary for finance and business units.

•  Monitors procurement reporting systems to meet company requirements.

•  Selects vendors in collaboration with the engineering function, negotiates pricing, and supports continuous improvement & corrective action initiatives.

•  Directly solves operational issues with vendors and manages supplier performance feedback.

•  Reviews and resolves vendor claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.

•  Recruits and maintains suppliers that provide high quality products and services at a better price while maintaining the highest code of ethics and conduct.

•  Negotiates complex requests for materials and services.

•  Works day-to-day with the other functions in the region on implementation of category sourcing initiatives.

•  Develops sourcing and implementation strategy consistent with Kerry quality, service and financial goals.

•  Prepares and issues purchasing contracts.

•  Prepares and reviews contracts, bids, proposals, and vendor agreements for legal correctness, price, and acceptability of items to specifications.

•  Develops and utilizes a system to evaluate vendor quotations with the appropriate negotiation and purchasing techniques to ensure quality, price, delivery, and service.

•  Support continuous improvement projects for Engineering and Maintenance operations.

Qualifications and skills

Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering or a related field, MBA Preferred.

•  8+ years’ experience in engineering/CAPEX procurement, or a related category.

•  Must be able to travel as necessary (20 – 30%, domestic)

•  Strong communication skills and initiative; successful candidate will work with Kerry co-workers in multiple functions and locations as well as outside vendors.

•  Must have excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

•  Excellent understanding of purchasing procedures & tools.

•  Able to work in a dual reporting matrix and in virtual teams.

•  Able to get buy-in and commitment from stakeholders – proven collaboration capability.

•  Successful, multi-year track record within a manufacturing industry in a procurement, engineering, or related field.

•  Familiarity with SAP, Procurement Sourcing Tools, and relevant management systems a plus.

•  Excellent analytical, written, and communications skills