Assistant Sourcing Manager Business Services Europe (Buyer)

ABOUT UNILEVER

With billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. Our strategy begins with a purpose that places consumers at the heart of everything we do : Brighten everyday life for all. Our goal is to deliver best-in-class performance with market-making, unmissably superior brands. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our collaborative, and flexible working environment. Our organizational ambition centers around creating workplaces that foster equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging across all aspects of our business. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

ABOUT PROCUREMENT

Part of the Supply Chain family, Procurement is responsible for over 30B Euro of material and services spend globally with more than 60,000 suppliers. Getting the right services and materials, sustainably sourced and ensuring responsible procurement is critical to ensuring our brands with purpose grow. Our teams work closely with the business to understand stakeholders needs, bring innovation to meet changing consumer, employees and customers needs, and drive financial value for Unilever through competitive buying. We’re at the forefront of digital procurement, bringing new tools and analytics to drive data-based decisions. Our strategy is ‘Procurement with Purpose’ and focuses on buying responsibly, buying better, and growing together with partners around the world. Our ambition is based on three key drivers : being Purpose-Led, Value-Driven, and Future-Fit.

ABOUT MBS

MBS, Unilever’s Marketing and Business Services Procurement team, is responsible for Unilever’s sourcing and supplier strategy and execution for all third party spend across Marketing, Business Services, and IT, supporting the business requirements of Brands, Divisions, Markets, and functions to drive 4G growth through strategic supplier management, cost and value management, sustainability, and innovation, aligned with Unilever’s Compass. The team manages an annual spend of ~9B Euro with a supplier base of about 40,000.

ABOUT BUSINESS SERVICES

Within MBS, the Assistant Sourcing Manager is responsible for supporting the sourcing strategy development, implementation, and procurement of the Business Services Portfolio business, partnering some of the stakeholders on the ground. This role will be part of a team managing a significant spend of approximately 320M Euro annually and will be a key interface to the European business. This role will report to the Strategic Sourcing Manager, Business Services Europe.

The Assistant Manager will increase effectiveness of our business services strategy by creating an expertise-driven model, streamlining accountabilities, building capabilities, and leveraging knowledge, relationships, and business strategies.

The role will increase efficiency of our procurement organization by driving scale where it makes sense, decreasing fragmentation, pooling expertise across geographies, prioritizing higher impact spend areas, leveraging technology and data, and drive performance that unlock growth for Unilever.

JOB PURPOSE :

Find your purpose at Unilever. You will lead innovations, big and small, that will make our business win and grow. You will learn from brilliant business leaders and colleagues in a truly global and diverse culture to ultimately become a better you.

The successful candidate :

Is a caring leader, ready to bring the best out in people; strong in collaboration and influencing skills; and brings forward-looking, healthy challenges to deliver effective solutions.

Has expertise or is willing to learn to apply defined procurement methodologies (7 steps process) and best practices to meet or exceed stakeholder requirements by delivering results and minimizing risk to the business.

Is a strategic, independent, and self starter to stay always 3 steps ahead driving towards excellence.

Understands the wider business context and is knowledgeable and equipped to motivate the team to deliver leading peers for performance and care .

An collaborative team member and a creative problem solver with service mindset, ready to define and lead the Business Services sourcing solutions to Deliver with Excellence .

You will own and drive key portfolios for Unilever on a geografical scope, contributing directly to the Unilever GAP Strategy .

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE :

Support in managing the spend of 320M Euro across various regions in Europe. Business Services are professional services to help the business and employees to deliver better outcomes. This includes as an example workforce (contingent labour, consulting, legal), HR services (benefits, global mobility, training), outsourcing, workplace, travel & fleet, utilities & waste.

The role is supporting the management of the the Europe Business Services Portfolio. This may include commercial negotiations, strategy development and operational service and quality focus on a day to day basis. Managing the relationship between Unilever and suppliers. Drive GM Improvement through the Cost saving initiative projects.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Understand the European business needs related to functional areas of spend in Business Services and bring deep expertise and insights across the value chain and supply base to translate the business requirements into effective future-fit procurement strategies. ​Connect strategy & execution aligned to Unilever GAP, Global Divisions, Functions & Markets goals, and priorities, aligned with Procurement Lighthouse and OneMBS strategies and principles.

Implement sourcing strategies, operating models, and supplier relationships to redefine our procurement approach including a focus on Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing strategies

Work with senior stakeholders to deliver complex globally led projects across multiple geographies.

Understand the European business needs related to functional areas of spend in Business Services and bring deep expertise and insights across the value chain and supply base to translate the business requirements into effective future-fit procurement strategies.

Connect strategy & execution aligned to Unilever GAP, Global Divisions, Functions & Markets goals, and priorities, aligned with Procurement Lighthouse and OneMBS strategies and principles.

Implement sourcing strategies, operating models, and supplier relationships to redefine our procurement approach including a focus on Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing strategies

Work with senior stakeholders to deliver complex globally led projects across multiple geographies.

Lead internal performance management and reporting including creation and stewardship of relevant key performance indicators working along with the Businesse Services leadership team.

Experience & Qualifications :

3+ years of procurement experience, including proven and deep experience in procuring professional services or related field or indirect procurement portfolios.

Expertise in Sourcing, negotiation and contracting, ideally in 1 or more indirect procurement categories.

Understanding of the Europe market landscape for Business Services.

Experience in project management

Leadership skills to influence peers and stakeholders

Experience in contributing business process reengineering, with experience driving Change Management initiatives.

Bachelor's degree in engineering or business administration

Skills :

Ability to work under pressure and in a complex global environment balancing a broad spectrum of stakeholder requirements.

Comfortable working in conditions of ambiguity and leading through change.

Able to create and drive adoption and execution of a shared vision and strategy for change.

Ability to interact with senior stakeholders cross effectively and efficiently functionally (including Business Services, CD, PMUs, and Procurement) to understand their needs and deliver effective balanced solutions.

Delivers change whilst managing the interface between “day to day” and improvement projects.

Passion for continuous improvement

Strong verbal and written communication skills, including creation and delivery of effective presentations.

High financial and business acumen

Strong in selling ideas and concepts.

Inspiring, motivational, and accountable people leader, able to lead remote and cross-cultural teams and connect people and ideas.

Strong in project and time management

Stakeholder management and people skills

Passion and practical creativity

Tenacious and resilient in the pursuit of challenging goals

LEADERSHIP :

• You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.
• As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.

SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviours

PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE :   Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed.

PERSONAL MASTERY :  Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.

CONSUMER & CUSTOMER LOVE :  Brings the voice of the consumer into everything we do, always.

PURPOSEFUL IMPACT : Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.

AGILITY : Explores the world around them, continually learning and developing their skills.

TALENT CATALYST : Inspire people to grow, with support and honesty.

WHAT WE OFFER

Hybrid work and flexibility.

Opportunities for the development and improvement of qualifications.

Sharing the cost of professional training & courses.

Benefits : life insurance, private medical care, pension fund, sharing the cost of sports activities, Benefits System – Cafeteria and many others.

Extra days off to take care of yourself and others.

Unilever store - Our products at attractive prices.

Equal Opportunity Employer : Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.