Job Description
How will you CONTRIBUTE and GROW?
Plan, optimize, and oversee category strategies to maximize profitability and meet customer needs, while ensuring the seamless deployment and execution of the sourcing process for local categories
1. Sourcing execution (day to day sourcing activities)
- Apply sourcing strategy or instructions defined by the category managers if existing
- Develop and apply own sourcing strategy for categories not managed by a Category Manager
- Analyse and challenge specifications with requesters
- Elaborate specifications and statement of work with requesters [warning: for Direct, specs must be under responsibility of requesters]
- Identify potential suppliers and propose the list of potential suppliers to requesters, in particular support Category Manager in this regard
- Launch RFx to pre-selected suppliers and facilitate the process of suppliers selection (technical and commercial) with requesters
- Analyze offers using TCO approach, make scenarios and propose short list of suppliers based on fact-based and agreed criteria to requesters.
- Prepare fact-based negotiations and define roles to be played by Air Liquide stakeholders in front of suppliers
- Select supplier and negotiate contracts
2. Contract Implementation and Management
- Explain contracts to Internal Customer Managers and Local Procurement Representatives for deployment and appropriate execution in the system. Communicate them as well to internal customers localy
- Establish measures and controls to ensure and track successful implementation of the contract localy
- Follow up contract implementation
- Manage contractual compliance
- Define and periodically review buying channels
- Contract Management (application of price escalation formulas, volume rebate collection, products and services portfolio management, progress clauses, renewal etc.), including update of procurement database (contracts, catalogues...)
- Manage incidents and claims
3. Suppliers relationship management
- Lead SRM activities for relevant suppliers of his/her category (supplier strategy, review and audit incl. financial solidity, innovation initiatives, internal promotion of supplier, supplier days) in line with SRM framework
- Manages supplier relationships (Guarantees, Penalties, Claims, Supplier Reviews, Performance and risks management with European Proc Directors (in case of complex situation)
- Facilitate introduction of suppliers to company level stakeholders
- Contribute to supplier performance evaluation
- Animate the supplier qualification and audit process in collaboration with Inspection teams, HSEQ and Technical experts
- Support in Corporate Social Program (CSP) nomination process (validation)
- Contribute to supplier risk identification and mitigation to ensure compliance with risk mapping
4. Stakeholders management
- Develop and manage relationship with internal customers (BL, Functions)
- Consolidate internal customer feedback on category strategies
- Consolidate internal customer feedback on Supplier Performace
- Lead working sessions with internal customers to identify TCO reduction opportunities
- Boost influence and recognition of the procurement function within the community of Business Stakeholders (BL, functions)
5. Continuous Improvement
- Conduct periodic surveys to measure internal customer feedback for continuous improvement in collaboration with the Procurement Performance Dir
- Undertake corrective actions with suppliers to improve performance (e.g. Supplier development programs, progress plans,…) and track progress
- Undertake corrective actions with Clusters/Functions to improve contract compliance
- Proactively organize sessions with internal customers to identify further TCO/TVO reduction opportunities: standardization, …
- Identify opportunities for automating PO (catalogs, Open PO etc.)
- Analyze spot buys reduction opportunities provided by Tactical Procurement Dir (compliance and contract coverage ), define and implement corrective actions
6. Reporting
- Consolidate and present sourcing action plan to his/her Management and when needed to related Category Manager
- Contribute to yearly ambition plan and its updates (within the target and rolling forecast processes)
- Provide periodic activity reporting to his/her Management on actual and projected savings related to his scope
7. Sourcing execution
- For the assigned categories: Define EU/Cluster/multi-countries guidance or sourcing strategy and align with stakeholders
- Execute RFQ, lead negotiations with selected suppliers & manage contracting of globally selected suppliers
- Coordinate with Direct Buyers to ensure compliance to the defined guidance or sourcing strategy
- Manage relationship with internationally contracted suppliers
- Claims centralization (>10KE) for globally contracted suppliers
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Are you a MATCH?
1. University degree in Business Administration, Law, Engineering, or a related field. A Master’s degree or certification in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or Global Sourcing is a distinct advantage.
2. Minimum 5 years of experience in strategic procurement or category management within a mid-sized or large-scale organization.
3. Proactive mindset with a strong commitment to achieving KPIs and driving operational excellence.
4. Results-oriented quick learner with the ability to collaborate effectively within a multicultural/international team.
5. Proficiency in AI tools and digital productivity applications. Adavantage if hands-on experience with SAP, Coupa, e-RFQ processes, and Business Intelligence (BI) tools.
Our Differences make our Performance
At Air Liquide, we are committed to build a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world.
We welcome and consider applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their background. We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.
