EMEA Container Category Purchasing Manager

With an annual volume of 30 000 TEUs and a spend of 15M€ for container freight and an additional 10M€ for merchant haulage, the European Container Category is an important purchasing area at Imerys. The European Container Purchasing Manager is responsible for strategic purchasing of these activities and will be a member of the Global; Container Purchasing Team. The role will include applying a top class purchasing process methodology, best practices, sourcing strategy and associated KPIs management.  

JOB SCOPE/DIMENSIONS

Direct management of all European Container Purchasing. 

In charge of the transportation panel rationalisation, supplier relationship management. 

Be an active member of the Global Container Purchasing Team and a back up for the Global Container Manager and team members. 

Manage quotations and liaise with internal stakeholders to provide an outstanding service to the organization in full support of the business processes.  

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute in developing and implementing a Container Purchasing Strategy that best serves Imerys global needs for short and long term. 

• Deliver the planned savings for the European Container Category 

• Ensure to have a full and complete overview of all Imerys European Container shipping business, enabling the function to design the required strategy and to approach the market as one unified and strong shipper with the objective of cost savings

• Identify, quantify and pursue opportunities for cost savings or other improvements and manage them on a project basis until completion and validation of the captured savings

• Actively contribute to the alignment across the Global Container Purchasing team implementing common methodology, sharing best practises and secure continuity. 

• Contribute in defining a common process of performance assessment for the category and report results periodically

• Be a supportive but also challenging business partner and source of related knowledge for Imerys internal stakeholders, define common goals and provide and seek support for improvement projects 

• Setup a process of establishing detailed and tailor made SLA’s with the Imerys internal container shipping operations defining the applicable way of cooperation on operational level

• Be the local Imerys representative with ship owners or shipping industry bodies and maintain a supplier management process

• Conduct a regular relationship with the Imerys forwarding agents and ensure the proper application of the negotiated conditions.

• Active participation to the Merchant Haulage negotiations of your scope.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Education and Experience requirements

• Solid relevant experience in Supply Chain, in particular Container Shipping Business and related activities in an international business environment (60 year +) 

• Master degree in Supply Chain or similar

• English fluent others languages are welcome.

Knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics 

• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships & influence key decision makers internally & externally, regionally and globally

• Proven experience in planning and leading negotiations

• Highly motivated & results focused with the ability to act with a high sense of urgency

• Ability to operate and execute effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and challenging deadlines

• Thorough knowledge of the formalities and processes of the Container Shipping industry

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.