Flexible Location - (Near manufacturing sites or key hub locations in the US) - Franklin TN, Rolla, MO, Fremont, NE, Lewisburg, OH, Chicago, IL, St. Louis, MO

This position is responsible for the development of setting strategic direction and delivering results for Indirect categories such as Capital and Factory Services and other supply/manufacturing spend within the North American Royal Canin business.

What are we looking for?

• 5+ years’ experience in Procurement with Capital buying for manufacturing

• Experience managing multiple suppliers with varying levels of spend

  Strong analytical skills & market knowledge

  Strong negotiation and communication skills

• Location is flexible (near manufacturing sites or key hub locations in the US)

What will be your key responsibilities?

• - Ensures compliance with proper procedures, policies, systems and controls

  - Purchase indirect goods & services by securing price, capacity & service levels in line with commitments to the business and as per the sourcing strategies by applying a wide range of sourcing tools (e.g. negotiation, e-procurement, strategic collaboration, tenders/RFPs etc.)"

  - Implement supply base strategy. Assess and develop suppliers in order to meet business needs and opportunities.

  - Ensure effective risk management of the supply base, through robust contracts and monitoring of financial and other KPIs. Implement corrective actions as appropriate.  Manage all related commercial, financial & ethical aspects of projects

  -   Establish & maintain relationships with Finance managers/directors ,  department managers/directors (plant manager, marketing director, sales director, supply chain director, ...) , and their teams to ensure understanding of their needs and to facilitate the appropriate level of challenge.

  - Ensure compliance with policies, systems & controls

  -  Provide market and financial insights and inputs to the internal sourcing planning process

  - Recommend and implement best practice for areas of responsibility.

  - Provide input and execute MSSMs at a regional level and other major work streams

  - Participate in external forums and associations

  -  Lead and contribute to global/regional projects as required

  - Participate & lead, when required, engagement programs.

  - Actively participate in the cross segment team meetings, as well any global and/or specific subcategory team meetings

  -  Regularly maintain & update relevant KPIs (related to in scope investments  e.g. savings, payment terms etc)

  - Responsible for providing support, training and guidance to  junior and, or  new team members. Provide support , as needed to individual buyers in complex negotiations and critical issues (eg: disputes that threaten continuity of supply, termination of major suppliers, suppliers causing late delivery of projects).

  - Acts as the liaison between the sites and, or business units and the sourcing managers to communicate changing business needs (e.g. specification, volume changes, etc.)"

  - Execute supplier performance reviews on a regular basis.

  - Develops & implements a continuous improvement action plan. Monitors changes and adjusts the plan as needed to sustain performance results"

  -  Identifies and manages supplier collaboration initiatives (e.g. supplier owned inventory, forecast management, electronic invoicing, operational process streamlining, etc.)"

  -  Manage all related commercial, financial & ethical situations

    Identifies  opportunities, road blocks with respect to  regional strategies and determines next best  local approach as needed.

  - Work in collaboration with other buying operation managers

  - Influences internal stakeholders to align with global & regional buying strategy

  •            Key stakeholders:  General Managers, Marketing directors, Sales directors, Chief Engineers, Industrial Engineers, Technical managers & Maintenance Managers, plant managers

  •            External contacts are VP and Key Account Managers of medium to large companies and the owners of smaller companies.

  •            Planning horizon: up to 3 years

  •            Categories covered can include capital, logistics, factory services, and/or site services

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 like-minded and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

#LI-NN1

About Mars:
Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5â„¢, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitalsâ„¢, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCAâ„¢ and Pet Partnersâ„¢. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 130,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

Disclaimer:
Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.​​​​​​​

Note to Search Firms/Agencies:
Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific.  Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.