Category Leader for Direct Materials
Milan, IT, 20049
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Sun Chemical, a member of the DIC Group, is a leading producer of packaging and graphic solutions, color and display technologies, functional products, electronic materials, and products for the automotive and healthcare industries. Together with DIC, Sun Chemical is continuously working to promote and develop sustainable solutions to exceed customer expectations and better the world around us. With combined annual sales of more than $8.5 billion and 22,000+ employees worldwide, the DIC Group companies support a diverse collection of global customers.
Sun Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of Sun Chemical Group Coöperatief U.A., the Netherlands, and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S.A. For more information, please visit our website at www.sunchemical.com or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter
The Category Leader for Direct Materials is responsible for managing sourcing strategies for key raw material categories such as resin chemistries and their feedstock, solvents, and additives. This is a full-time position with a hybrid work schedule, and the location can be anywhere in Europe.
Key Responsibilities include, among others:
- Manage global and regional sourcing categories with accountability for spend.
- Design and lead category strategies including negotiations, project creation/facilitation, and alignment with regional leaders.
- Lead cross-functional teams in developing and executing sourcing strategies aligned with business and financial objectives.
- Analyze supply markets, supplier economics, and supply/demand dynamics to develop TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) programs.
- Act as a change agent for TCO optimization by implementing new suppliers, make-versus-buy decisions, product standardization, logistics enhancements, and working capital improvements.
- Implement chemical market tracking metrics to anticipate trends in major chemical markets.
- Manage category spend databases, monitor price changes and project progress, and provide timely reporting.
- Negotiate and develop key supplier contracts in collaboration with legal and business stakeholders.
- Develop comprehensive category strategies based on market assessments.
- Support corporate sustainability goals through Sustainable Procurement, including experience with Ecovadis and knowledge of best practices.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of procurement experience in direct raw materials, preferably in the chemical/manufacturing sector.
- Proven experience in global procurement/sourcing with success in cost reduction and change management in cross-cultural environments.
- Strong English communication skills (oral and written), organizational ability, and solid problem-solving/decision-making skills.
- Excellent analytical and business acumen, including cost modeling, budgeting, and forecasting.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel/Office; SAP knowledge is a plus.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
It is Sun’s policy that applicants for employment are recruited, selected, and hired on the basis of individual merit and ability with respect to the position being filled. Sun prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.
Employment agencies are an important component of our talent acquisition strategy, and we value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. We will not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies for any employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Sun Chemical or directly to hiring managers in any form without a signed contract on file, and search engagement for that position, will be deemed unsolicited in nature, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired as a result of the referral or through other means. Additionally, any resume submitted without a contract in place will be considered property of Sun Chemical and no fees will be paid to the agency if the candidate is hired.