Regional Category Manager

Giesecke+Devrient•Lisle, IL

6d•$90,000 - $110,000

About The Position

The Regional Category Manager – Americas as an individual contributor, is responsible for leading procurement activities for the Films and Foils category across the Americas region while ensuring full alignment with global category management strategies. This role oversees commercial negotiations, strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier performance, and contract compliance. It further ensures robust collaboration with cross-functional partners, including Operations, Product Management, Supply Chain Management (SCM), R&D, and Quality. The position requires an experienced procurement leader (7–10 years) with advanced expertise in SAP, supplier management, data analytics, and global procurement processes and the ability to work in a highly matrixed atmosphere. Proficiency in English is required; Spanish language skills are strongly preferred. Travel requirements of 15% of the time.

Requirements

Experienced procurement leader (7–10 years)
Advanced expertise in SAP, supplier management, data analytics, and global procurement processes
Ability to work in a highly matrixed atmosphere
Proficiency in English
Strong negotiation and stakeholder‑management capabilities.
Analytical and structured problem‑solving skills.
High adaptability, flexibility, and intercultural sensitivity.
Demonstrated initiative and sound, timely decision‑making.
Confident, professional, and persuasive communication style.
Strong sense of responsibility, ownership, and reliability.
Strategic, solution-oriented mindset in complex or ambiguous situations.
Ability to influence across multiple levels and functions.
Advanced knowledge of SAP MM and related procurement modules.
Strong capability in Business Intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
Familiarity with AI- and automation-based procurement tools and methodologies.
Proficiency in project management tools and frameworks (e.g., Agile, MS Project).
High proficiency in PowerPoint and Microsoft Office applications.

Nice To Haves

Spanish proficiency highly advantageous.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute regional procurement strategies that support and extend the global category roadmap.
Conduct comprehensive sourcing activities to ensure optimal cost, performance, and supply continuity.
Evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers in collaboration with global category management.
Prepare and present monthly category performance updates, including cost analyses and strategic progress monitoring.
Establish and maintain strong relationships with regional suppliers to ensure service quality, reliability, and transparency.
Lead commercial negotiations and annual/periodic business reviews with suppliers.
Ensure adherence to quality standards, ESG requirements, and corporate sustainability objectives.
Manage supplier documentation, including NDAs, Framework Agreements, and compliance certifications.
Oversee RFQ and e‑auction processes on platforms such as Ivalua.
Serve as the primary procurement liaison for all Americas-based sites.
Execute global category strategies at the regional level and ensure alignment with global sourcing objectives.
Coordinate with global teams to standardize supplier portfolios, harmonize commercial terms, and maintain category governance.
Lead the negotiation, development, and management of supplier contracts in partnership with Legal and Contract Management.
Ensure all suppliers maintain full compliance with contractual requirements and defined service levels.
Monitor supplier performance using defined KPIs, with emphasis on quality, delivery, cost, and sustainability.
Initiate and oversee corrective actions for underperforming suppliers.
Manage compliance through sustainability and regulatory platforms such as BomCheck.
Ensure supplier actions support internal ESG and sustainability roadmaps.
Create and monitor purchase orders to ensure timely and accurate material delivery.
Resolve issues related to order delays, discrepancies, or production constraints.
Maintain accurate SAP master data, including pricing, lead times, and material specifications.
Coordinate made-to-order production with suppliers to ensure alignment with technical and timeline requirements.
Collaborate with the Quality department to manage non-conformities and drive resolution of supplier-related issues.
Lead commercial negotiations related to Cost of Quality (CoQ).
Implement preventive actions to minimize recurrence and safeguard operational reliability.
Work closely with Operations, Product Management, R&D, and Quality to integrate procurement strategy with product and process requirements.
Consolidate procurement needs from regional sites and translate them into actionable sourcing strategies.
Facilitate transparent communication and cross-functional problem‑solving related to procurement risks or opportunities.