Category Procurement Lead Pallets

Are you looking for a new challenge in Procurement? Are you specialized in Pallets and Wood? Then join our growing Procurement department in our company as **Category Procurement Lead | Pallets & Wood.**

As a **Category Procurement Lead - Pallets & Wood** within the Central European Procurement Team you are responsible to initiate, draft, plan, organize, and implement the correct procurement strategy for the Pallets & Wood - category cross-pillar and Europe wide. In addition to that you are in the lead to develop, lead and maintain expert knowledge of the Pallets & Wood Procurement Category. Focusing on Strategic sourcing, supplier management and performance, risk management and commercial negotiations. You are expected to take ownership for your results and you develop and build strong relationships with your supply base to reach best in class results in cost, technology and quality. In this role you will report into the Head of Category Procurement - Packaging & Automation. We are looking to hire in the Netherlands, Germany and all Eastern European countries where we have an active location.

**Key accountabilities**:

- Being the Procurement Expert in the Pallets & Wood Category.
- Business partner with your stakeholder group on a strategic, tactical and operational level and identifying their business needs by acting as their partner on procurement topics.
- Initiate, draft, validate & sign off, implement and execute procurement strategy within the strategy of the Procurement Leadership team.
- Being the expert and visible/accessible in the Pallets & Wood category.
- You are responsible for defining the current projects in the Pallets & Wood Category.
- Participate or lead in cross functional teams as appropriate, provide a comprehensive review of: categories, supply base, cost drivers, market trends, supplier rationalization plans, supply positioning, sourcing strategies, and strategic actions.
- Maintain timely and accurate knowledge of the Pallets & Wood categories and procurement landscape and maintain accurate up-to-date cost records and analysis of trends.
- Manage supplier relationships on a strategic, tactical and operational level for the Pallets & Wood category.
- Manage the contracts on a strategic, tactical and operational level for the Pallets & Wood category.
- Generate and maintain accurate records according to established procedures for quotes, cost estimates, items, tooling, purchase orders, supplier performance, and commodity spend analysis, etc.
- Create and implement annual cost reduction strategies, including but not limited to: negotiate pricing ensuring the lowest price up-front, source new business per the approved commodity strategy, implement packaging and logistics improvements, etc. Identify potential commodity and/or supplier opportunity areas (e.g. standardization, supplier consolidation, new technologies, etc.), communicate potential opportunities internally and initiate activities to assemble appropriate resources to pursue opportunity areas
- Make periodic visits to suppliers, perform risk assessments, onsite surveys, periodic supplier performance reviews, supplier development plans. Maintain, re-evaluate, and develop robust risk management systems to promote appropriate competition and ensure suppliers continuity.
- Analyze and validate contracts and agreements and communicate appropriately with Legal Department for full approval.
- Interface with supplier development for continuous improvement in the supply base, including but not limited to: managing the supply base for a given commodity, focus on continuous improvement in quality, delivery, and value. Identify and develop suppliers with innovative technologies that reduce cost and increase our competitiveness.

**Key qualifications**:

- Bachelor’s or master’s degree required.
- Certified or actively seeking certification in CIPS/NEVI or equivalent.
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in the Pallets & Wood field and procurement.
- Strategic sourcing experience (practice + methodology) and a strategic mindset and ability to develop effective strategy for supplier selection and management of relationship.
- Experience working in a complex and international organization, self-starter and proven track record in driving leading categories on an European level.
- Excellent communication, presentation and interacting skills, fluent in English is a must.
- Ability to travel 25% within Europe.

And also
- Ability to work under pressure in a dynamic and demanding environment.
- Able to develop, manage and influence key (customer) stakeholder relationships internally and externally.
- Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and coordinate sourcing activities for several sites in Europe.
- Strong team player and able to work successfully in a multi-cultural environment.
- Ability to challenge, collaborate, influence and convince stakeholders.
- Ability to negotiate as an agent on the company’s behalf, ensu