Category Manager

Job Description:

Category Manager

Wellingborough

Axalta has remained at the forefront of the coatings industry by continually investing in innovative solutions. We engineer technologies that protect customers’ products – whether they are battling heat, light, corrosion, abrasion, moisture, or chemicals – and add dimension and beauty with colourful finishes. We have a vast and ever-evolving portfolio of brands primed to play an important part in everything from modernizing infrastructure around the world to enabling the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles.

We are currently looking for a Category Manager to join us at our facility in Wellingborough.

The Category Manager Procurement sets the organizations’ procurement strategy for the direct materials spend for solvents and isocyanates in the EMEA region. This includes the formal development and execution of strategies using best practices associated with the formal RFP process’s, process improvement, negotiations, and supplier development. As a Category Manager you will function as the link to suppliers translating the needs of our business in a way that encourages them to provide products of superior quality and value to enable us to reproducibly supply only excellent quality finished products to our customers.

Axalta is seeking a dynamic and experienced Category Manager to oversee the solvents and isocyanates categories within our organization. As a Category Manager, you will play a critical role in driving growth, efficiency, and profitability through effective development and deployment of your category strategy. This role offers an exciting opportunity for an individual with strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of the market to deliver a significant impact to the Axalta organization.

Key responsibilities:

• Accountable for managing direct material spend of $100+ MM.
• Achieve Y-o-Y cost savings and Variable Margin Improvement
• Evaluate current purchasing approaches, and propose improvements where needed.
• Utilize e-technologies (i.e., RFP’s, internet auctions and on-line vendor management)
• Lead external category procurement that ensures quality, on-time delivery of materials and services at a competitive cost and in compliance with all company guidelines.
• Perform market analysis, benchmark analysis, and develop “should cost” models at a commodity level.
• Manage supplier relationships and contract negotiations to identify suppliers capable of meeting product and service requirements for both current and future business needs.
• Execute agreements as the Buyer of Record.
• Lead cross-functional qualification projects for alternate or second source suppliers and technology.
• Monitor and resolve major disconnects within the order to pay process.
• Development & maintenance of relationships with both external suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Lead and negotiate raw material costs for assigned categories.
• Market analysis: frequently monitor market trends, industry developments and regulatory changes.
• Management of one remote direct report
  
  
  

Key requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree OR equivalent experience
• Solid Procurement experience
• Strategic category management experience
• Experience collaborating with global teams, matrix organisations
• Experience managing the contracting process & contract terms
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office including Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience working with ERPs
• Fluent English
  
  
  

Desirable requirements:

• Experience sourcing bulk chemicals or petrochemicals, highly desirable
• German as a second language would be a plus
• SAP
  
  
  

Key Behavioral Competencies & Attributes:

• Strong problem solving, out of the box thinker, that plans, communicates and then delivers upon commitments.
• Balanced leadership toolbox: a mentor & collaborator, that inspires, unites, and develops people to make those around them better.
• Effective communication and people skills (collaborator with ability to effectively influence others to action)
• Ability to collaborate, communicate effectively across mediums, audiences, and situations.
• Unquestioned ethics and integrity including the ability to work on confidential matters.
• Able to identify and prioritize critical issues.
• Ability to effectively influence at all levels of the organization (up, down, and laterally)
• High level of business acumen.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Excellent oral and written communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
• Ability to travel : 10%, including international travel.
  
  
  

Axalta operates its business in two segments: Performance Coatings and Mobility Coatings, which serve four end markets, including Refinish, Industrial, Light Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle, across North America, EMEA, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Our diverse global footprint allows us to deliver solutions in over 140+ countries and coat 30 million vehicles per year. We’ve recently set an exciting 2040 carbon neutrality goal, in addition to 10 other sustainability initiatives, and we take pride in working with our customers to optimize their businesses and achieve their goals.

Our Company:

Axalta has remained at the forefront of the coatings industry by continually investing in innovative solutions. We engineer technologies that protect customers’ products – whether they are battling heat, light, corrosion, abrasion, moisture, or chemicals – and add dimension and beauty with colorful finishes. We have a vast and ever-evolving portfolio of brands primed to play an important part in everything from modernizing infrastructure around the world to enabling the next generation of electric and autonomous vehicles.

Axalta operates its business in two segments: Performance Coatings and Mobility Coatings, which serve four end markets, including Refinish, Industrial, Light Vehicle and Commercial Vehicle, across North America, EMEA, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Our diverse global footprint allows us to deliver solutions in over 140+ countries and coat 30 million vehicles per year. We’ve recently set an exciting 2040 carbon neutrality goal, in addition to 10 other sustainability initiatives, and we take pride in working with our customers to optimize their businesses and achieve their goals.