About this role
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Regional Category Manager APAC
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Sourcing and Category Management · Develop and execute APAC regional sourcing strategies aligned with global category objectives and local business needs. · Support the Global Category Manager in developing short-, mid-, and long-term category strategies for assigned categories. · Lead market analysis, supplier screening, supplier qualification, RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, competitive bidding, and sourcing decision preparation. · Consolidate current and future demand requirements from APAC sites, including volumes, quality expectations, service levels, and supply continuity needs. · Drive cost reduction, value creation, total cost of ownership optimization, and working capital improvement initiatives across the region. · Provide APAC market intelligence, supplier insights, cost driver analysis, and category updates to regional and global stakeholders. Supplier Relationship Management · Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers across APAC, with particular focus on suppliers located in China and other critical sourcing markets. · Establish and monitor supplier KPIs covering cost, quality, delivery, service, innovation, sustainability, and risk performance. · Conduct supplier performance reviews, supplier development discussions, and improvement projects in collaboration with APAC sites and global category stakeholders. · Support Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Product Conformity, Innovation/R&D, and Quality teams with supplier knowledge and technical-commercial input. · Lead supplier business reviews and escalation discussions when business continuity, cost, quality, or service risks require management attention. Commercial and Contract Management · Lead commercial negotiations for assigned regional categories and suppliers, including pricing mechanisms, rebates, payment terms, incoterms, and service conditions. · Support implementation of global, regional, and local contracts across APAC sites and ensure contract compliance and follow-up. · Coordinate with Legal, Finance, Product Conformity, and other functions on contract templates, amendments, supplier claims, and commercial risk topics. · Manage contract renewals, contract performance, and relevant documentation for suppliers under the role’s responsibility. Supplier Risk and Supply Continuity · Identify, assess, and mitigate supplier, country, logistics, regulatory, ESG, and geopolitical risks affecting APAC supply chains. · Develop alternative supplier options and contingency plans for critical raw materials and suppliers. · Support global and regional supplier risk management processes by providing supplier risk analysis, regional insights, and mitigation actions. · Contribute to business continuity planning and critical supplier monitoring for APAC operations. Financial Reporting, Forecasting and Performance Tracking · Provide price actuals, price forecasts, market trends, and other relevant commercial input for budgeting and controlling processes. · Support tracking and reporting of Purchase Price Variance, value creation, savings, payment terms, working capital, and procurement KPIs. · Prepare regular regional category updates and executive summaries for Procurement Manager APAC, Global Category Manager, and relevant stakeholders. · Maintain transparency on sourcing project status, supplier performance, and risk mitigation progress. Cross-Functional and Matrix Collaboration · Work closely with APAC Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Finance, Engineering, Product Conformity, Innovation/R&D, Sustainability/ESG, and Legal teams. · Ensure alignment between APAC business needs, site requirements, and global category strategies. · Act as the regional interface between suppliers and corporate/global procurement functions, especially where supplier negotiations or technical-commercial topics require regional execution. · Lead or participate in cross-functional procurement projects, supplier qualification projects, raw material substitution initiatives, and continuous improvement activities.
Required Qualifications and Experience Education · Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline. · Additional procurement, supply chain, negotiation, or category management certification is an advantage. Professional Experience · 5 to 8 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or supplier management, preferably in a multinational manufacturing environment. · Experience with raw materials procurement, chemical/materials-related categories, or technically complex supplier markets is strongly preferred. · Proven experience in supplier negotiations, competitive bidding, cost reduction, supplier development, and contract implementation. · Experience working in a matrix organization with regional and global stakeholders. · Strong exposure to APAC supplier markets, especially China, is highly desirable.
Time Type: Full time