Procurement Operations Innovation Analyst

Job description

Procurement Operations Innovation Analyst

Job Summary:

• Reports to Category Procurement Operations Manager
• Represents Procurement as the single point of contact for internal business partners and external suppliers for all category innovation projects
• Assists with VIP projects or initiatives to ensure category targets are achieved; works with the cross functional teams to deliver targets

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manage the key interfaces related to project execution, such as R&D, TIMQ, SC Planning, Brand Development, Finance, Material and National Procurement, Global Category Procurement and the external supply base
• Leads innovation/commercialization projects as “supply project manager” interacting with Material and National Procurement, Global CPO, R&D, TIMQ, SC Planning, Brand Development, Finance and supply base. Responsible for material pricing, project coordination/communication to key internal/external stakeholders and ensure on-time in full project delivery.
• Category single point of contact for internal Procurement Group (Material Supply Mangers, National Procurement Managers and Global Category Procurement) responsible for the communication and coordination of all category led Innovation, VIP, sourcing studies and material benchmark activities. Communicate brand strategies and category initiatives to the internal procurement team to ensure alignment between supply management and category initiatives.
• Category Procurement single point of contact for internal business partners (R&D, TIMQ, SC Planning, Brand Development, and Finance) responsible for the communication and implementation of supply management sourcing strategies, as well as bring supply management knowledge and expertise into all innovation, VIP, and sourcing study project teams
• Executes ongoing material, packaging and graphic changes for brand maintenance through the innovation projects led by Brand Development (e.g. line extensions and re-launches). Responsible for the coordination/communication to the key internal and external stakeholders to effectively manage the transition to minimize write-offs.
• Assists with VIP cost savings projects as “supply project manager” interacting and participating on teams with, internal supply management groups, business operating teams, plants and supply base, for area of responsibility
• Develop all cost inputs, capital requirements and recommendations for capacity, as well as responsible for all supplier liabilities into the financial business case and IPM for raw and packaging materials that will be utilized in the Innovation and VIP projects
• Responsible for the use and the maintenance of the Material Brief that is utilized by R&D, Finance and Procurement for the costing of all innovation project scenarios
• Support Product Group in all category initiatives, such as strategic sourcing studies and material benchmarking studies
• Manage all communication tools (category passports, project kick-offs, pre-gates, toolkits) within the category for internal and external distribution
• Supports all regional/cross regional and global Innovation Risk Assessments as the Procurement representative for all category innovation projects
• Support Material Contingency Planning at the Category level
• Supports supplier approval process for new supplier or supplier sourcing sites being utilized for innovations, to ensure supply base meets the agreed performance criteria that have been agreed upon with Unilever Corporate Quality
• Upholds Unilever code of business ethics in all activities

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree preferred - however experience and proven track record may substitute
• At least 1-3 years general business experience in any function (Logistics/Operations/Manufacturing/Supply Management/Planning)
• Must be able to run multiple projects simultaneously as primary role is to manage change / projects required by the business with suppliers
• Experience in either purchasing, planning, SAP, general supply chain or project management is a requirement
• Understanding of tactical and strategic “Business Objectives”
• Knowledge of the corporate “standards of leadership”
• Experience with integrated systems, including both mainframe and desktop computer applications (this includes Ariba, SAP, Interspec and as well as Access, MS Office, MS Project and MS Excel)
• APICS certification is an advantage

Unilever offers a competitive compensation package which includes: Medical & Dental Plans, Life Insurance, including eligible spouses, domestic partners & children; Health Care Flexible Spending, Dependent Care, Retirement & Savings Plans, Tuition Reimbursement, Paid Vacation and Holidays.

Please note: as part of the job application, you will be asked to complete pre-screening questions. Completion of the pre-screening questions are mandatory in order to be considered. Please allow yourself plenty of time to complete both the application and pre-screening questions. If the pre-screening questions are partially answered or not at all, it will adversely affect the progress of your application. Please be aware that you will have to complete the pre-screening questions at once as you will be unable to return to it later.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other protected class in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Unilever takes affirmative action in support of its policy to and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Employment is subject to verification of pre-employment drug-screening results and background investigation.