Senior Category Manager Global Packaging

Senior Category Manager Global Packaging

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management roles, with a focus on packaging materials and components within a global context.
• Deep understanding of the packaging industry, including materials, technologies, trends, and regulatory requirements, with a focus on sustainability and circular economy principles.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills, with the ability to analyze complex data, evaluate supplier proposals, and make data-driven decisions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external partners at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent financial understanding, with the ability to turn financial figures and terms into valuable business cases.
• Excellent project management abilities, with a track record of leading cross-functional teams and delivering results in a fast-paced, global environment.
• Proficiency in procurement and sourcing tools, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office Suite incl. ThinkCell.
• Experience with utilizing eAuction tools for maximizing competition within your portfolio will be an advantage.
• Previous experience using MS Power BI and SAP will be beneficial.
• English – written and spoken is a must.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive sourcing strategies for packaging materials and components, considering factors such as cost, quality, supplier capabilities, and sustainability.
• Identify opportunities for consolidation, standardization, and optimization of packaging categories to achieve cost savings, improve efficiency, and enhance supply chain resilience.
• Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with packaging suppliers globally, fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct supplier evaluations, performance reviews, and negotiations to ensure alignment with quality standards, delivery requirements, and cost targets.
• Monitor market trends, industry developments, and regulatory changes affecting the packaging industry, and leverage insights to inform sourcing decisions and drive innovation.
• Anticipate supply chain disruptions, price fluctuations, and geopolitical risks, and develop mitigation strategies to minimize impact on packaging procurement operations.
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders including product development, marketing, operations, and sustainability teams to align packaging strategies with product requirements, branding objectives, and environmental sustainability goals.
• Lead cross-functional teams to drive innovation, value engineering, and new product introductions in collaboration with packaging suppliers and external partners.
• Negotiate and manage supplier contracts, terms, and agreements for packaging materials and services, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
• Monitor contract performance, enforce service level agreements (SLAs), and resolve disputes or issues in a timely and efficient manner.
• Champion sustainability initiatives within the packaging category, driving efforts to reduce environmental impact, minimize waste, and promote recyclability and reuse.
• Collaborate with suppliers, industry associations, and stakeholders to identify and implement sustainable packaging solutions and practices.
• Develop annual budgets, forecasts, and cost reduction targets for the packaging category, and monitor spending against established targets to ensure financial objectives are met.
• Implement cost-saving initiatives, value engineering programs, and competitive bidding processes to optimize total cost of ownership and improve profitability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or relevant certifications (e.g., CSCP, CPSM, CIPS) is beneficial.
• Any other languages like German, French or Spanish will be an asset.