The Regional Category Manager for Raw Materials is a key leadership role in the APAC Procurement team to drive change in systems, to create pragmatic processes and to build relevant tools in a working environment where fast pace and large-scale change is the norm.

Reporting to the Procurement Director Asia, the Regional Category Manager will develop and implement category procurement strategies within related spend, which adhere to corporate policies and contribute to global procurement objectives.

This role is being recruited right now to build a world class strategic sourcing function in the APAC region. This is a unique opportunity for an open minded, creative and entrepreneurial professional that is energised by building the job from scratch. The pace of change is high, the expectation for results is high and the autonomy to make things happen is high.

This role will collaborate with and coordinate the requirements of its countries to the Global Procurement Organization over the development of Centrally Coordinated Categories and be fully accountable for the implementation of such strategies locally. The role will also be responsible for the creating, validation and implementation of Category Strategies and execution of contracts.

Key Accountabilities:

• Create, gain business wide support for and implement category sourcing plans that quickly deliver tangible results.
• Build effective relationships engaging with stakeholders across functions and country business units that maximise value and drive continuous improvement.
• Identify and prioritise opportunities to deliver total cost of ownership savings in your categories and drive the implementation of the plans to capture those opportunities.
• Proactively manage supplier relationships to deliver cost & cash results, to drive continuous improvement and position JDE as a customer of choice.
• Measure and benchmark performance to ensure that JDE has the most competitive cost base in your category.
• Drive innovation programmes in your category to continually search for cost saving opportunities, new technologies, new products and new suppliers that contribute to the overall strategy of the business.
• Contribute on sourcing strategies development for Global categories, working closely with Global Procurement Team and execute strategies in APAC region, put them in place for all portfolios and align with internal stakeholders.
• Define and implement category strategies & targets for Regional categories, lead execution and track benefits realization.
• Establish and analyse performance metrics in order to evaluate supplier performance.
• Manage Raw Materials supplier selection process, negotiate & contract key suppliers and administer contracts
• Manage supplier risk assessment (scanning via official tools and databases, financial assessment, etc.)
• Manage and improve key supplier performance and support quality audits to deliver (non-) financial benefits.
• Keep oversight over set of contracts within category and ensure contract compliance considering payments terms, prices, discounts & rebates and performance in close collaboration with business.
• Manage transitions to key suppliers.
• Establish and maintain portfolio of strategic agreements and key supplier relationships to manage risk in procuring Raw Materials (i.e. pricing, supply, quality, etc.). 
• Oversee high level risk management activities (and gain risk management expertise) for respective category areas.
• Contribute to cost price calculations based on market and product knowledge.
• Understand the physical manufacturing process, including visiting plants to ensure guidelines are being followed, to deliver optimal goods & services to production plants.
• Manage supplier selection for Raw Materials.
• Ensure compliance to internal policies & procedure and has a deep understanding of and manage compliance to the Combined Business Model.