Associate Sourcing Manager – Marketing & Business Services, IT Infrastructure and Telecom- North America

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

·  Leading regional and global strategic sourcing activities within the area of spend responsibility, including the definition of the internal customer, needs, insight of supply markets, developing sourcing strategies, activation of supplier selection and negotiation, facilitating supplier implementation and ongoing strategic supplier relationship management.
·  The candidate is the IT procurement expert for specified clusters within the IT spend responsibility (Software, Hardware, IT services and Telecoms). The candidate will identify opportunities and ensure service delivery to Unilever business and UL business stakeholders in conformance to IT MBS Procurement processes and contracted commitments.
·  Coordination of Regional sourcing projects with the global, regional IT Procurement teams – ensuring a seamless service to the stakeholders
·  Strong vendor management skills are required
·  Need to identify new vendors in wide spectrum of services across country /global and maintain the internal and external relationships.
·  Develop and align own work plan, objectives, priorities, and processes within the context of the overall IT supply management and stakeholder community priorities and strategies.
·  Lead global and regional strategic sourcing activities to professionalize the sourcing of materials/clusters of external spend within IT spend responsibility. 
·  Develop appropriate sourcing strategies for the cluster spends within the area of responsibility.
·  Execute the sourcing strategy, including tendering, analysis, selection of and negotiation with suppliers, crafting and placing legal agreements/contracts and confidentiality agreements, and ensuring that all are conducted according to Unilever's code of business ethics and corporate social responsibility requirements.

This role is responsible for all North America IT purchases (US, Canada) for a spend of over €70m annually.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

·  Procurement Strategies
·  Work in an effective, cohesive team environment (Ability to understand all areas of Indirect Procurement)
·  Support the IT Infrastructure teams on getting spend data, analysing offers, making recommendations as well as getting team meetings, SharePoint and contracts better organized.
·  Support the Global procurement strategy implementation / sourcing execution in North America for IT Infrastructure categories in Unilever
·  Support the Global procurement strategy development and implementation related to the IT Procurement space within the Networks, Hardware, Software, Telco and Cloud areas from a local requirements perspective.
·  Participate in internal and external analysis (industry & supplier) and benchmarking in the North America region.
·  Identify, facilitate and deliver benefits through strategic sourcing / e - sourcing / demand management / vendor relationship management / value optimisation
·  Identify the optimum supplier relationships for the organisation, negotiate value driven agreements that are in line with defined commercial and legal requirements and subsequently manage the supplier relationships along with the stakeholders
·  Achieving savings/cash and other targets through defined methodologies, tracking and reporting on these financial targets
·  Implement and manage sourcing best practices
·  Engage in regional sourcing initiatives providing global insights around new supplier intelligence
·  Input into Business Case development with the business stakeholder and finance teams
·  Ensure business compliance to procurement policies and contracts, taking any necessary corrective actions
·  Support and participate in contract drafting as required (working with the legal and business teams)
·  Identify and support with the right Procurement solution new Business Opportunities

·  Projects
·  Support global Strategic sourcing projects as needed
·  Run e-tenders and sourcing exercises for the North America market
·  Lead multiple regional/local procurement projects him/herself as needed

·  Vendor and contract management
·  Support supplier strategy for assigned portfolio and/or geographies
·  Prepare and manage supplier selection process (RFPs/RFIs) for assigned spend using available tools and standardised templates
·  Work with the Legal Counsel to finalise commercial agreements using Unilever contractual operating framework of Master Contracts.
·  Support and lead, as required, supplier governance process by conducting review meetings and developing account plans.
·  Complete and maintain Supplier Relationship Management and account planning data in the Unilever toolset.
·  Build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with suppliers.
·  Address / escalate supplier non-performance as appropriate.

·  Business engagement
·  Act as first point of contact for the business for issues/questions relating to IT Work Procurement within the Networks, Hardware, Software, Telco and Cloud areas and concerning the requisitioning platform with business and IT stakeholders in North America to analyse and collate information regarding current requirements and future needs.
·  Ensure the satisfaction of Unilever's internal stakeholders with the Indirect Procurement of requirement for Networks, Hardware, Software, Telco and Cloud areas.
·  Ensure compliancy by business users to Procurement policies and contracts and take corrective actions as appropriate
·  Efficient, timely and transparent communication to internal customers and suppliers

·  Portfolio Management
·  Support portfolio strategy development and implementation
·  Work within defined Procurement procedures (Ways of Working) and always adhere to the Code of Business Principles.
·  Manage, create Supplier contracts
·  Support category in gathering spend data & analysis, contract management and Supplier relationship management as needed using the available tools.
·  Identify opportunities to standardise purchasing requirements, and enable this in the form of a catalogue.
·  Document savings in the internal SRS (Savings Reporting) database and assist other team members.
·  Cost and Cash Savings - Proactively identify and deliver Savings and/or Cash (via payment term extension)
·  Identify and propose cost reduction/continuous performance improvement (supplier) opportunities.

Reporting Channel:

Global IT Portfolio Lead for Tech Foundation and Infrastructure

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

·  Procurement experience is required (min. 3-5 years)
·  Experience in leading multiple key projects independently 
·  Knowledge and experience in buying IT (Software, Hardware, IT Services and Telecoms) or non-production items is strongly preferred
·  Knowledge or experience of digital procurement is an advantage e.g. etenders, AI, RFX, machine learning etc.
·  Experience with senior stakeholder management and vendor management
·  Fluency in English is required. Spanish (basic level) would be an asset.
·  Excellent Communication skills
·  Fluent use of MS Tools

REQUIRED LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOURS

·  Personal mastery- always bring Your best
·  Agility, Accountability & Responsibility
·  Growth Mindset
·  Bias for Action

What We Can Offer You

Culture for Growth | Top Notch Employee Health & Well Being Benefits | Every Voice Matters | Global Reach | Unilever: Life | LinkedIn | Strategy | Unilever | Why work for Unilever | Careers at Unilever |  Unilever Global Website | Check Out Our Space

Work Level 1C:

Pay: The pay range for this position is $83,200 to $124,700. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

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Unilever is an organization committed to diversity and inclusion 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. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

 

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com . Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses.