Regional Category Manager - Super Absorbent Material & Nonwovens at Kimberly-Clark

• In this role the Regional Category Manager supports the development of the Global SAM (Super Absorbent Material) & Non Wovens Category strategies and provides regional expertise to define, develop, influence and deploy the global category strategy for the regional businesses. The Regional Category Manager will work closely with SAM and Non Wovens, Global Procurement Category Directors, which means reporting full to the Global SAM Procurement Director and dotted line to the Global Procurement Non Wovens, Films & Resins Director. Besides building trust and influence with regional stakeholders and suppliers to execute consistently and deliver clear business benefits that impact quality, service and total cost of supply.

In this role, you will:

Provide subject expertise and insight into the region category requirements:

• Build a broad understanding of category with detailed understanding of purchase spend, purchase portfolio and supplier performance.
• Create and maintain category management knowledge and processes to ensure the category strategies are informed, relevant and up to date
• Monitor supplier performance indicators and initiate supplier reviews as required or in accordance with agreed programs to drive improvement and reduce risk across the regional enterprise.

Connect and influence regional stakeholder network:

• Identify, build and maintain an effective cross functional stakeholder network
• Understand regional business and functional requirements
• Proactively influence internal stakeholders
• Lead regional interactions with Regional Procurement organization, R&E, Quality, Planning and other stakeholders
• Gain necessary input and cross functional expertise whilst influencing acceptance, agreement, and support from key stakeholders to ensure ultimate compliance and support.

Manage Regional Supplier Contracts, develop relationship management strategies driving collaboration, Supplier relationship management and / or other engagement programs:

• In conjunction with the Global Category Directors recommend, agree and lead regional relationship programs.
• Build trust and credibility with suppliers by demonstrating integrity, commitment and results orientation to drive and deliver results.
• Maintain an effective business relationship with all suppliers and stakeholders based on clear, concise group and personal communication.
• Plan and execute Global RFPs including lead of regional supplier selection in line with SCM (Strategic Category Management) and NGS (Negotiation Gold Standard)
• Implement formal contracts utilizing standard global templates, the contract management system and legal resources to meet business needs for regional suppliers

Drive improvement programs and transformations to support category management strategy:

• Through the regional and global stakeholder network, become the regional point of contact, focal point and connector for strategic category management projects and initiatives in all purchase categories
• Support escalation and discussion with suppliers for Quality, Regulatory and service issues
• Create, maintain, and drive regional WAVE programs of quantified NMP and VFE savings
• Identify hurdles and barriers to change, resolve where possible or escalate as appropriate to Global directors and / or senior management
• Monitor and manage actions to complete delivery of project milestones in line with agreed delivery expectations , reporting progress and / or escalating to global category management and other K-C leadership as appropriate.
• Align with suppliers on pricing as per cadence (quarterly, biannual etc) identified as per price mechanisms or internal/ external price index data for benchmarking and share price lists/update requests with GBS team
• Work with cross functional stakeholders and suppliers to drive improvements in OTIF

The successful candidate will join the Global Procurement, Direct Sourcing team and report to Global Procurement Director – Direct Materials.