Job Description:

Purpose/Key Objectives of the Job:

As the Category Sourcing Manager for South East and South Asia, for the Logistics category in India , the role encompasses the following responsibilities:

- Leadership & Strategic Direction: Provide strategic direction and leadership to category sourcing in India.

- Strategy Deployment: Define and deploy strategy for managing regional spend of the category, driving year-on-year value and benefits.

- Stakeholder Collaboration: Work with key internal stakeholders including cross-business units, R&D, and other category leads.

- Supplier Management: Own and drive strategic supplier management with all the regional vendors and own select/agreed global vendors

- Alignment with Corporate Goals: Steer category strategy and execution aligned with AkzoNobel's corporate goals on sustainability.

Responsibilities:

- Develop and deploy regional sourcing strategy for the category.

- Lead and manage strategic supplier management regionally & globally.

- Influence internal stakeholders and business teams strategically on a global & regional scale.

- Exhibit leadership behaviors to both the category team and suppliers.

- Lead and deliver regional and global projects specifics to category.

- Implement strategic cost management through e-tenders, negotiation, and contract management.

- Ensure year-on-year value creation in line with company and functional goals.

- Collaborate with the Category Technical Lead to develop a technical roadmap, including critical projects and initiatives.

- Build and sustain a vendor base encompassing current and prospective vendors.

- Contribute proactively to AkzoNobel's Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi).

- Develop alternate raw materials with the Business Unit Technical Lead, mitigating single/sole source material risks.

- Demonstrate high levels of global collaboration and cooperation.

Work with:

- Regional and global colleagues.

- Functional and business leadership, such as Supply Chain, Sustainability, and R&D.

- Strategic suppliers.

Level of Autonomy:

- What decisions may the job holder make without first seeking approval from higher manager/supervisor?

- Full autonomy in regional category management.

- Significant influence and control over strategic sourcing decisions of the region.

Examples:

- Please give two examples of the typical challenges or problems the job holder faces in their daily work and what they must do to overcome them.

- Stakeholder management: Sustainably deliver strategic initiatives and align with stakeholders despite potential role conflicts.

- Complexity management: Handle a complex array of materials and vendors in a regional filled with various countries, taxes, rules and regulations

Requirements for Job (education or experience required to be able to perform this job):

Qualifications/ Education:

- Graduate in Science/Business Economics.

- Master's in Business Administration or Supply Chain preferred.

- Minimum of 5 years' experience in a strategic sourcing role with similar complexity, spend size, and geography.

- Excellent communication skills in English.

- Proven experience in global or regional sourcing roles, change management, and leading strategic projects.

- Superior influencing skills.

General skills:

- Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

- Proficient in problem solving, project management, team working/building.

- Ability to work under minimal supervision with broad direction.

- Continuous Improvement leadership ability.

- Ability to establish common ground within the organization.

Functional Skills:

- Strategic sourcing, category management, advanced negotiation skills, contract management.

- Proficiency in multiple data platforms such as SAP and BI.

- Strong analytical skills: highly numerate, structured, and accurate.

- Capable of performing, understanding, and presenting detailed information analysis and evaluation.

- Flexible, agile, and stress-resistant.

- Fluent in English.

- Hands-on experience with international business culture.

Behavioral skills / Key Competencies:

- Ability to synthesize complex information and formulate strategic or tactical approaches.

- Strong stakeholder management skills.

- Excellent communication and presentation skills.

- Action-oriented and performance-driven.

- Creativity, innovation, and an eye for opportunities.