Title: Procurement Officer Global Patents m/f
Location: Netherlands-Netherlands (Province level)-Rotterdam-Rotterdam - deBrug / deKade
Job Number: 15000ID7
Procurement Officer Global Patents m/f
Background information
There has never been a more exciting time to be working in Procurement when you consider the sheer scale of what we are seeking to do in doubling the size of the business whilst reducing our environmental impact.
As Unilever Procurement adapts to the ever dynamic business environment, we will need to be agile in order to continue our track record of delivery in contributing to the top and bottom line. Inevitably, given the consistent and high quality of our delivery over the past few years, we will be asked to continue this rate of performance and indeed go over and above this standard to ensure the value provided is further enhanced across the scope of our remit. As well as ensuring that we are best in class in delivering the basics, we also have to look to the future and continuously evolve to meet the needs of our changing environment - reinventing ourselves for sustained competitive advantage. And of course, we are only half of the picture.
Our suppliers are at the heart of everything we do. We need to work more closely than ever with suppliers to co-create sustainable practices and bigger and better innovations.
This places great demands on the skills and expertise of all of us as Procurement professionals.
Responsibilities & Accountabilities
• Reporting to Procurement Manager and to stakeholders provide periodic updates on projects /
initiatives, jointly identify opportunities • Day-to-day management of Global Patents portfolio, responsible for governance and approvals for
use of third parties. • Instructing / advising Operational Procurement teams on user requests and supplier strategies • Contribute to wider Innovation & Professional Services team targets • Run projects and/or be responsible for a part of the portfolio
Business Relationship management • Assist / help establish standardised Ways of Working (WoW) between stakeholders and
Procurement. • Jointly develop and execute ongoing communications with the stakeholders for the selected
sourcing strategies and progress within area of spend responsibility. • Potentially manage the relationship with stakeholders covering a part of the portfolio
Portfolio Sourcing
All activities below are effected directly by the role holder in Portfolios assigned to self or through direct line management of Portfolio procurement team members
•
Become the source of expert knowledge, and in conjunction with line manager, establish an agreed strategy for Global Patents.
• Positively support and contribute to team building and team dynamics though personally displaying team attributes •
Reduce variability in demand by negotiation to maximise value for money over lifetime cost of goods or services (which can require push back to change perceptions or re-analysis individual requirements for the greater corporate value).
•
Ensure appropriate quality of specifications to support effective sourcing.
Revisit specifications in light of supplier assistance •
Involve suppliers at the earliest opportunity in all requirement-raising stages, both during the longer-term category review period and during ongoing demand periods. Maximise supplier involvement in specification setting, and focus upon consolidation of requirements across business units and consolidation of similar materials and services
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Enact strategic planning including: o
conduct data gathering and analysis of internal needs o
collate and jointly refine business requirements to effect greatest supply leverage o
understand the potential supply base. Analyse and categorise the different suppliers using appropriate tools - develop supply market knowledge and insight
o
develop appropriate sourcing strategies, in collaboration with colleagues, within area of responsibility
•
Implement approved sourcing strategies through supplier interactions and sourcing events, including steps to:
o
Review potential supply base, and establish consistent supplier selection process acceptable to all the established working community within the portfolio
o
Understand regulatory and legal issues in the supply area o Develop a timetable for supplier interactions with formal tendering, response and iterative data and pricing requests when required, or other forms of supplier proposal management o
Ensure pre-qualification where required of an appropriate number of potential suppliers
o
Analyse costs, focusing on total acquisition costs, including activity based review and understanding suppliers’ cost drivers
o
Ensure broad and active competitive bidding appropriate to portfolio strategy. Use agreed standard framework liaison or tender documents for short listed suppliers as appropriate, and tailor if appropriate in association with legal and contract management team
o
Maintain an active use of e-Sourcing tools either directly or through sourcing technical team support deploying e-RFIs, e-RFPs, e-auctions, and e-exchanges where appropriate o
Prepare rigorously for interactions and management of negotiation with external suppliers leading the involvement of appropriate functional and operational teams within the business as required
o
Lead and drive supplier negotiation, planning interactions and outcomes, and assessing success against desired outcomes. Challenge and negotiate to provide most competitive price/service offers o
Formalise the relationship and negotiation results with
deploying Unilever IP Purchasing Agreements and Contracts, using standard contracts where possible, otherwise include value adding non-standard terms and conditions through liaison with legal to ensure corporate compliance
o
Develop jointly agreed performance measurement framework with key suppliers including service level agreements and non-performance penalties. Motivate supply base with rewards and incentives
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Ensure continuous performance monitoring of suppliers through total acquisition cost model
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Monitor agreed risk areas in the Portfolio and report on mitigation steps taken
(Sub-)Portfolio Supplier Management
• Together with the Portfolio manager develop the strategy and execute it, taking ownership of projects and for managing the respective stakeholders • Identify, select and manage key suppliers for continuous improvement through rigorous cost and value analysis • Ensure the effective implementation of awarded supplier, whether directly or through colleagues working in Cluster to ensure supplier switch outs and/or new contractual terms are deployed and effectively
• Build liaison points with key suppliers within remit of the team and be involved in business critical discussions with them if required • Engage with key functional business partners in enabling ongoing supplier relationship management, monitoring, review and continuous improvement.
Skills & Experience
• Ability to analyse sourcing data and conceptualise sourcing strategies to identify / propose sourcing opportunities while setting category strategy or developing negotiation strategies
• Influencing skills to promote ideas and concepts back to the Business Partner Teams and users or budget holders • Attention to detail and ability to assimilate, appraise and extract information quickly when faced with increasing data inputs • Problem solving skills to analyse channel analysis information from Business Partner team and analysis skills to evaluate internal demand and external supplier information and extract critical cost opportunities • Thorough and astute preparation and approach for external contract negotiation
• Financial understanding of the supplier cost models and lifetime cost of acquisition • Advanced negotiation abilities to develop win win situations with key suppliers
• Innovative thinking to measure and promote supplier performance Curiosity to use, or suggest adaptions to, new technology to provide cost reducing or value creating support • Ability to take ownership and drive a part of the portfolio’s activities.
ESSENTIAL
2 to 5 years of relevant experience including: • Experience and knowledge of procurement, ideally services (indirect) procurement • Experience within or in service of the function being supported by procurement
• Capabilities and skills in Strategic Sourcing • Working in / being part of cross geographical teams • Experience of procurement transformation, change and business engagement
DESIRABLE
• Prior knowledge of Legal or Patents services • Experience of Professional (Consulting) services
Competencies
• Influencing others • Enterprising behavior • Goal Orientation
Our offer
We offer you a dynamic environment in which people with energy, creativity and passion work together. There are good opportunities to pursue your professional and personal goals and develop yourself on national and international level.
How to apply
To apply, you must do so online. Your application will be reviewed against our requirements and we will be in touch shortly to provide you with an update on the status of your application. For any additional queries, please contact Debbie Veldmeijer on
debbie.veldmeijer@unileverhrservices.com
On any given day, two billion people use Unilever products to look good, feel good and get more out of life.With more than 400 brands focused on health and wellbeing, no company touches so many people’s lives in so many different ways.Our portfolio ranges from nutritionally balanced foods to indulgent ice creams, affordable soaps, luxurious shampoos and everyday household care products. We produce world-leading brands including Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Axe, Hellmann’s and Omo, alongside trusted local names such as Andrélon, Blue Band and Conimex.
Job: Supply Chain