Category Manager, NA - Indirect Procurement

Avery Dennison•Mentor, OH

2d•$107,250 - $160,160•Onsite

About The Position

Avery Dennison is transforming its Global Procurement function to be a value creator. This role enhances total value procured from the Indirect supply base by leading standardization and consolidation solutions across Avery Dennison businesses in North America. The position investigates new developments in Indirect Materials & Services, makes recommendations to reduce costs and improve quality, and is responsible for negotiating commercial terms and implementing procurement agreements with suppliers. The role focuses on sustained delivery of business results, including supply assurance, cost, quality, service, and innovation. The Indirect Procurement Categories include Facilities Management, Utilities, MRO, Packaging, Travel, Professional Services, Capital Equipment, HR Services, Freight, IT, and Marketing. This position will manage specific procurement categories or projects spanning multiple categories and will report to the NA Regional Procurement Leader.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations, or Engineering.
Minimum of 5 years experience in Indirect Procurement.
Strong negotiation, strategic thinking, commercial, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional and diverse teams.
In-depth knowledge of procurement best practices and industry trends in indirect procurement.
Self-starter with the ability to drive indirect procurement projects from initiation to conclusion, effectively collaborating with diverse individuals at all levels of the organization.
Manage and lead multiple projects simultaneously.
Presentation experience and skills required.
Demonstrated success in leading change toward a centralized process.
Highly motivated with solid team-working skills.

Nice To Haves

An MBA is good to have.
Proficient in Google workspace, Ariba and function-specific software is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for assigned categories of goods and services, ensuring alignment with global Procurement transformational goals and objectives.
Lead the sourcing process for assigned categories, including RFP/RFI development, supplier selection, competitive bidding, and contract negotiations to secure best value for the organization.
Identify and deliver cost savings targets for assigned Categories or projects within North America & across Divisional Indirect Categories. Initiatives could cut across all Indirect Categories or other areas where opportunities exist.
Coordinate regional and multi-site procurement activities, consolidating indirect spend to achieve volume economies and enhance procurement leverage.
Work with key internal customers to implement best practices and ensure operational efficiencies are met.
Aggressively manage supplier base across category area.
Leverage Indirect spend across North America.
Work with Global Category lead to develop and implement Global strategies.
Implement best practices and cost reduction initiatives across North America.
Lead North American supplier negotiations and contract execution.
Categorize spend data in support of overall Procurement strategies.
Coordinate and consolidate multi-site / local unit Indirect Procurement process.
Track and report savings.
Support procure-to-pay process improvements within Category area.
Develop and implement strategies to improve working capital.
With assistance of cross divisional, cross functional team, develop and implement metrics, which objectively demonstrate success for each cost center and P&L affected.
With assistance of cross-divisional team, develop method of objectively measuring and scoring the performance suppliers.
Analyze suppliers and markets to identify trends, industry dynamics, opportunities for marketplace advantage, and new ideas for products, processes and services.
Gather information about competitors’ materials, technologies, supply base, sourcing strategies, etc. to benchmark competitors’ costs, service, etc.
Work to develop/publish/implement strategies that enable high quality, delivery, and productivity cost savings.
Negotiate with suppliers to achieve the lowest cost consistent with considerations of quality, reliability of source and urgency of need.
Develop and maintain appropriate and productive supplier relationships.
Improve cooperation across geographic and organization boundaries by identifying barriers and working with Regional Procurement Leaders to eliminate barriers.
Develop and maintain appropriate and productive supplier relationships, including involvement in critical negotiations.