EU Strategic Sourcing Manager - M/F/X

Location: FRA-Gard-Aimargues

Location: Aimargues

Segment: Royal Canin

Type of contract: 12-months assignment

The EU Strategic Sourcing Manager is accountable for the development and deployment of sourcing strategies that ensure supply, maximize value for money and improve quality within assigned category. The role is responsible to assess and improve the sourcing activities by analyzing RC’s environment, spend, partnership, to develop and execute the appropriate recommendation to fulfil the business need, in accordance with Royal Canin standards, for European factories.

What are we looking for?

Minimum 4 years of experience in Sourcing role; Direct Materials experience strongly preferred

Experience working in diverse teams and matrix organizations

Knowledge and experience with Strategic Sourcing process with the ability to develop and continuously improve the framework in a product category

Proven leader who has demonstrated the openness to act as a team player, and situational leadership within peer group to influence business strategy.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills; both verbal and written including the ability to communicate effectively with different levels of the organization.

Strong analytical skills for financial assessments and issue identification, along with flexible thinking to adapt to changing markets.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Sourcing Strategy

Analyze market trends, identify market developments, and conduct category reviews to drive business understanding of these markets and how best to utilize the capabilities of suppliers and industry developments to deliver a competitive advantage to Royal Canin Europe.

Drive the development and execution of regional category action plans. Collaborate and drive stakeholder engagement to capture and deliver regional business needs.

Be the point of reference for regional category needs. Ensure regional needs are defined and represented in the development/creation of global category sourcing strategy with the Global Category Lead, utilizing the Mars Strategic Sourcing Methodology.

Co-build sourcing strategies with internal and external stakeholders that match Royal Canin strategy goals and maximize long-term value for money. Be a regional source of expertise in the development and deployment of category strategies.

Maximize Value Creation

• Create the annual operating plan for the portfolio & submit periodic forecast updates including risks and opportunities
• Achieve competitive price advantage through knowledge of material cost structure and external markets, including the relevant domestic and international economic factors
• Champion the total cost of assigned raw materials by identifying and maintain a list of potential cost reduction opportunities through the Do It Best process and monitoring of COGS
• Identify and propose opportunities to hedge various commodities in order to provide a competitive advantage and price stability to the business when available.
• Build project pipeline, tenders, negotiation to deliver the annual savings target
• Own and update cost forecasting database that will be used to update strategy and general reporting
• Protect the Supply Chain
• Ensure the demand of required material volumes for all sites are secured and accounted for, including future growth considerations
• Ensure supply of materials and contingency plans to meet business needs by identifying potential areas of risk, recommending proposed solutions and executing once aligned with stakeholders.
• Forecast and report on market movements to manage business risk and material availability
• Collaborate with SQA and Commercial Operations on strengthening raw materials supply resilience to manage risks
• Create Business Allocation Recommendations and Supply Agreements, once approved, to be signed based on the Limits of Authority.

Supplier Relationship Management

Own and execute supplier segmentation in alignment with Sourcing strategy and Category action plan. Prepare and drive the roadmap and KPI to continuously improve supply, quality, innovation, sustainability and savings with strategic suppliers

Be the lead Commercial representative of the business in supplier discussion, conducting regular supplier review meetings using performance metrics and supplier scorecards

Act as the key point of contact for strategic Supplier Relationship Management to drive enhanced communication and performance.

Stakeholders Partnering

Build relationships with internal stakeholders, ensuring they understand the role of Strategic Sourcing and know when to involve Sourcing in the buying process

Regularly use tools (e.g.: RACI, Service Level Agreements, and Statements of Work) to define roles and responsibilities for shared projects

Leverage expertise in order to bring innovative ideas & lean processes

Contribute to High Performing Collaboration culture

Collaborate with the Category team and be one voice to suppliers

Ensure Responsible and Sustainable Supply

Support efforts to leverage supplier resources to bring new ideas and products/ commodities/services, including new ingredients to enable our growth and sustainability aspirations.

Work in conjunction with Sustainable and Responsible Sourcing Leads at Mars Petcare to protect the reputation of Mars and its brands as it relates to our supply base

What can you expect from Mars?

You will work in a multicultural environment (more than 40 nationalities) and where your dog will be welcomed by more than 100 other Associates’ dogs at the office!

You will work in a unique campus, which gathers more than 800 Associates working for: the international HQ, the French subsidiary, two laboratories, a kennel and a cattery with more than 200 cats & dogs, and finally the most important factory of the Royal Canin group

Since 2015, no waste to landfill is made by the 16 Royal Canin factories in the world

All Royal Canin products manufactured in Europe are ISO 14001 certified from design to factory gate

Since 2017, Royal Canin has supported the K-DOG program of the Curie Institute, which trains dogs to detect breast cancer via olfaction

A unique and ideal work environment to become the leader in health through nutrition for cats and dogs!

You will evolve in the heart of an innovative production plant that will challenge you, on a daily basis