Procurement Director – Market Operations

Our client Unilever Ice Cream is looking for a Procurement Director – Market Operations & Resilience EU. Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability, we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall's, Ben & Jerry's), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of over $8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products.

We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win. We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we're crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As Ice Cream makers, we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025.

JOB PURPOSE

Deputy Head of Procurement EU and Spain Center of Excellence lead, taking responsibility for Europe BU Ice Cream Operational activities, supporting in day-to-day operations, ensuring efficient workflow, assisting with strategic plan execution, team coordination, and helping to achieve the organization's growth objectives. The Procurement Director – Market Operations & Resilience will be part of the Procurement ICLT, coordinating procurement strategies with Head of Procurement EU and E2E business partnering the Ice Cream Europe Business Unit (2.9Bn€ turnover) interacting and driving cross functions activities with Brand, SC, R&D and Finance Teams to drive operational efficiency and deliver impactful Procurement P&L results through strong supply strategies developed with Portfolios covering Innovation, Sustainability, Quality, Competitive Sourcing & Service Optimization.

If you have a founder mentality, willing to embark on the exciting Ice Cream New Company journey and join a strong creative multicultural team, join us

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Contribute and own Ice Cream Supply Chain transformation with Procurement Value Driven ESG Approach to support Founding the Ice Cream Company and industry-leading productivity to grow our market shares and become the world's best snacking company.
2. Support the New Ice Cream Company procurement organization transformation to meet EU BU strategic growth objectives and strategic plans execution.
3. Connect the business strategy and IC EU BU priorities with the procurement strategy developed by the portfolio groups, engaging with the global procurement organization.
4. Effective team management, problem-solving skills, and the ability to meet performance targets.
5. Monitor and analyze operational performance metrics.
6. Business partner EU BU Ice Cream leadership in costs optimization value creation (Product Logic, Smart Specs, CM, E2E Operations with suppliers) and P&L delivery.
7. Deliver business goals to enhance market shares growth and drive industry competitive advantage through OTIF Innovation, Material NMI, Service, Quality, and F4G.
8. Build strong global Procurement and suppliers' networks to deliver fast and brilliant savings / innovation projects.
9. Lead continuous F4G cost competitiveness pipeline plan for re-investment in our brands.
10. Accountable for forecast of savings, inflation, and net impact in the P&L.
11. Monitor capacity and capability at suppliers in line with the Business Plan to assure continuity of supply and lead material resiliency strategy development for Europe.
12. Identify and follow up on opportunities to add flexibility to the supply chain.
13. Able to quickly build knowledge on various buying portfolios to take fast decisions to ensure business continuity.
14. Build a solid network within the company and with the main suppliers.
15. Lead Quality Reviews and strategic improvement programs with suppliers together with Product Group Quality.
16. Drive short- and long-term service and quality improvement projects together with suppliers.
17. Lead the talent development, workload, and priority management.
18. Ensure that the team is giving the right level of support and responsiveness on issues related to quality and services from the suppliers of the categories.
19. Support the relationship development with strategic suppliers in support of the European Ice Cream Business.
20. Business partner IC key indirect procurement projects for MBS and Logistics portfolios.
21. Establish clear and measurable goals that challenge procurement to continuously improve; use financial and quantitative data to manage performance and deliver the financial targets.

SKILLS & LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS REQUIRED:

1. Excellent leadership, interpersonal, team building, coordination, and communication skills.
2. Consumer and Customer Focus: both internal and external.
3. Unilever Accountability and Responsibility: taking responsibility for IC EU BU overall performance, working in partnership and teamwork with internal and external organizations to deliver results.
4. Bias for Action: being able to work independently, with a clear pro-active approach.
5. Drive for results: Is passionate about and perseveres in the pursuit of challenging stretch goals.
6. Demonstrates energy, drive, and enthusiasm when striving to accomplish and improve results.
7. Managing change: Develops a shared vision and strategy for change. Delivers change whilst managing the interface between "day to day" and improvement projects.
8. Tenacious in the pursuit of change goals.
9. Drive Change Management initiatives, intelligent risk-taking while managing risk, managerial courage, and willing to make hard, fact-based decisions - comfortable with ambiguity.
10. Problem solving & decision making: Defines problems, systematically gathers and analyses data, identifies cause & effects, and establishes root causes & achievable solutions.
11. Makes good and timely decisions.
12. Maintain, build, and grow supplier relationships, cultural sensitivity / communication / global thinking.
13. Interpersonal effectiveness: Flexible use of accomplished interpersonal behaviors that facilitate in building trust and engagement amongst others whilst reducing the opportunity for conflict.

EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Education: Bachelor's degree in business, Procurement, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
2. English: C1/C2 Level.
3. Experience: Minimum of 10 years of experience in procurement, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within portfolio or category, in FMCG context.
4. Proven track record in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and contract negotiation.
5. Good interpersonal skills for business influencing and ability to interact with senior stakeholders effectively and efficiently across the company.
6. Demonstrate the different standards of leadership, such as talent catalyst, business acumen, agility, and passion for high performance.
7. Lead, mentor, and develop a team of procurement professionals and promote a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and excellence within the procurement organization.
8. Effective trouble shooter – able to remain calm in times of crisis.
9. Good analytical skills, combined with a pro-active attitude and clear skills to enable and lead/drive decision-making processes.
10. Strong project management skills, with experience in leading complex, multi-countries procurement initiatives.
11. Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities.
12. Deep understanding of the Ice Cream ecosystem.

What do we offer?

1. Hybrid Work (you can work from home 2/3 days per week).
2. 4 weeks of Flex Work per year: Opportunity to work remotely for the entire week without coming into the office.
3. Flexible hours: Work hours with a wide range of starting and ending times to accommodate your needs.
4. Restaurant Card and canteen service in our offices.
5. Parking: Possibility of parking at the offices at a reduced cost and with free electric chargers.
6. Online language courses.
7. Wellbeing Programs: Resources and activities to promote physical, mental, emotional, and purposeful wellbeing.
8. Online store with exclusive discounts on UL products and other recognized brands.
9. And many more