Packaging Procurement Manager

Scope: Full time / Europe

Location: Spain

Terms & Conditions:

If you are in the Unilever Ice Cream business or consider choosing to work for the Unilever Ice Cream business, you will work for the Global, leading Ice Cream player with €7.9bn Turn Over in 2023. The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of top 10 selling brands including Wall’s, Magnum, Ben &Jerry’s. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025.

Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure. As Ice Cream company we are committed to developing and nurturing talent within our Ice Cream company. You will have ample options for career growth and exploration, allowing you for you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organisation. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company. We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us.

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of over $8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win.

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As Ice Cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products.

JOB PURPOSE

If you are an experienced procurement professional with a passion for creating high performing teams and driving sourcing strategies that focus on delivering value and sustainability, then this role is just for you!

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, implement, and execute Ice Cream procurement sourcing strategies for all of packaging across Europe.

• Manage service for packaging material supply, mitigating upcoming supply/service risks through innovative and creative solutions (short and long-term) in collaboration with internal and external partners.

• Monitor capacity and capability at suppliers including mould utilisation in line with the Business Plan to assure continuity of supply, liaise with contract coverage on key materials.

• Manage mould health and refurbishment projects including capex management for the respective portfolio.

• Be the manager and lead a WL1

• Lead and support global and/or regional negotiations.

• Execute contract negotiations, leveraging the business and digital tools for support as needed.

• Follow market conditions and lead price forecasting cycles to enable proper budgeting and cash forecasting.

• Contribute towards packaging sustainability commitments including key metrics such as NDPE and plastic reduction.

• Deliver net productivity (cost savings/value creation).

• Optimize our packaging to be the most cost-effective design (product logic) while still serving its technical and consumer purpose.

• Identify and implement value chain intervention projects to bring the next level of value and efficiency to Unilever’s supply chain.

• To create and manage strategic supplier relationships to ensure we are a partner of choice.

• To identify and bring supplier driven innovation ideas to the business and ultimately to market to drive growth.

• Collaborate with the relevant R&D and technical expert teams to ensure the technical and commercial programs are fully integrated.

• Ensure resilient material supply chains are embedded into our sourcing strategies.

• To manage and reduce overall complexity within the portfolio.

• Adopt and deploy the digital agenda in your markets.

• Ensure proper levels of supplier service and quality are maintained.

• Behave as a key interface for the supplier and demonstrate the value procurement adds to the business.

• Communicate and execute the supply strategies and maintain connections with key Business Units & Business Groups.

• Support on regulatory related topics that may impact the portfolio and business.

• Support escalations of service and quality issues (e.g. crisis management) involving stakeholders as needed.

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to concisely communicate to senior level internal and external stakeholders.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED:

SKILLS & LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS REQUIRED: 

You are an inclusive motivator of people. Your team deliver with real passion, growing and learning from each other whilst delivering quick wins.

You are still responsible for your own results and as a manager, you also need to motivate others to deliver with passion, creating an inclusive and engaging climate around you. You can balance challenge with support and coaching. You understand the wider business context and you are emotionally intelligent enough to motivate people to deliver what is needed.

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors:

• PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations, and build empathy for others.

• PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.

• TALENT CATALYST: Invests in people – coaches individuals and teams to realize their full potential. Creates an inclusive climate, empowering everyone to be at their best.

• PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.

• CONSUMER LOVE: Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.

• BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change.

EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS:   

• University degree in Business Management, Supply Chain Management, Engineering or relatable subject.

• Minimum five years' experience in procurement and supply chain.

• Industry experience and knowledge, while not a requirement, is a plus!

• A proven track record of success in procurement and negotiations.

• Experience working with long term business strategies.

• Pro-active and complex stakeholder management and communication across ranks and functions.

• Strong analytics skills including a deep knowledge of Excel.

• Adept at working in a global virtual network with teammates and suppliers based around the world.

• Professional negotiation models and techniques.

• Basic understanding of finance.

• Comfort with systems such as Microsoft Office Suite, Power BI, SAP CLM, and more.

• Other skills: change management, forecasting and planning processes, and market operations

Disclaimer 

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against based on disability. 

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.