Sourcing Manager - Operations

What makes this a great opportunity?

The role is part of the International Sourcing function and is responsible for the sourcing requirements for Scotland. The role will cover indirect spend for the Scottish Operations.  

The role requires exceptional service to be provided to stakeholders quality and operational stakeholders across the region. Equally the role focuses on continuous improvement of the existing packaging materials, quality and specifications, and it is responsible for certain projects within the Scottish portfolio.

The job holder has responsibility for ensuring efficient sourcing on a range of goods and services with an annual spend totalling approximately 11 million GBP across a supply base of approximately 50+. This includes ensuring that our ways of working, formal policies and compliance are in place locally, aligning at an International and Global level. Categories may include packaging materials for both prestige and core skus.

Packaging Development projects (NPD) evolve over the years and within the year, but the job holder can be responsible for 25+ projects at a time and sourcing team will support this innovation activity via RFQ process.

There is a need to act as a company ambassador, working to build key relationships between the base of providers and Suntory Global Spirits. There is also a need at times to travel and to spend additional time working away from home.

Role Responsibilities

Develop and manage sourcing strategy for the category allocated.  When, appropriate agree sourcing strategy with International Sourcing leadership team and key internal stakeholders. This will involve a close working relationship with internal customers and a detailed understanding of their procurement requirements. Proactively carry out the appropriate sourcing arrangements with existing and new vendors to deliver the goods and services in the most cost-efficient manner to Suntory Global Spirits in Scotland. Delivering cost savings is an essential feature of this role. Negotiate and implement robust agreements with providers, to ensure all contractual terms are clearly documented and signed off, as well as contractual risk to SGS are minimized. Finally, this will include the creation and process purchase orders where required in the ERPs (SAP, Navision and/or Ariba).

• Support to the International Sourcing function in terms of information and/or negotiations for International or Global Sourcing projects when required. Seek and promote wherever possible to consolidate and leverage purchases across SGS and the bigger Suntory group.
• Maintain a register of all contracts and suppliers to the operational sites in Scotland with appropriate details on annual spend, contract end dates, supplier details, etc.
• Where required, actively work with all the operations staff on annual capital expenditure plan, agreeing which projects will have direct purchasing involvement. Carry out sourcing requirements for these projects to meet required time milestones, maximising savings against monies allocated irrespective to budget.
• Ensure, in particular, that SGS CSR, compliance and contract signature policies are followed.
• Develop and maintain a working understanding of the cost structures of goods and services ensuring that market analysis is done and an awareness of the marketplace and trends in input costs and commodities can be demonstrated.
• Look for new initiatives and continues improvements with either existing suppliers or new suppliers in close collaboration with the head of NPD. Close collaboration with head of NPD is essential for the role as in a mature organization potential savings will come from market intelligence and development of new materials and/or designs which should help to improve operational OEE.
• Lead Quarterly Business Review meetings with providers and implement subsequent action plans.
• Provide assistance to the finance function on invoice processing (particularly with any pricing queries) and the optimisation of the P2P cycle, including GRNI management.
• Provide spend and supplier reports from SAP and/or Ariba in order that both spend, and supplier figures are controlled and optimized.
• Maintain accurate records and files associated with all sourcing requirements at all times. Understand and ensure key commodities pricing is monitored and recorded for the category being managed.
• Liaise with GPPM, suppliers and other stakeholders to deliver packaging change projects according to business strategy.
• Support and ensure status of all projects is regularly provided to internal stakeholders, liaising directly with markets on packaging designs as needed, and check that project milestones are met.
• Pro-actively seek development of new materials, providing technical expertise, value engineering and cost reduction opportunities, as well as managing any packaging waste projects. This can include ensure packaging formats are investigated and rationalised to guarantee they are fit on purpose from a technical, legal and environmental viewpoint, at required quality and cost parameters
• Submit monthly report detailing activity within the month, advances, enablers and any identified blockers affecting the category.

Qualifications

Key Skills & Competencies 

• 5+ years within FMCG in Procurement and Packaging roles
• Working knowledge of legal terms and conditions and constructing agreements.
• Provide focus on development and a proven team player
• Fundamental knowledge of the Supply Chain and the impact that Sourcing has on it
• Commercial negotiation skills with a numerate, logical and analytical approach.
• Required good interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to influence at a medium and eventually senior level.
• Enthusiastic and pro-active with a can-do attitude.
• Capable of planning and organizing a diverse workload, whilst managing changing priorities.
• Proven project management skills
• Committed to continual improvement in processes, performance and personal development.
• Technical knowledge of glass/closures/corrugated/labels manufacturing.
• SAP ERP and Ariba experience preferred.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Within the Scotland, all levels of the business from production staff to Senior Management; Key contacts will include such functions as NPD, Bottling Operations, Quality, Customer Service & Planning, Finance and Marketing, in Glasgow and other International BU locations.
• Internationally, there is a requirement to liaise with other SGS Sourcing and NPD colleagues within International.
• There will be a requirement, as well, to liaise with other functions within International or globally such as Legal, GPPM team on the S2S process, SGS Technical Centre in Kentucky, etc.

External

• Providers and/or copackers at all company levels, ranging from MD’s, Sales Directors and Account Managers, in the UK and Internationally.
• Design agencies, Packaging waste bodies, technical and advisory/regulatory bodies, etc…
• Scotch Whisky Association on legal and design issues.

Experience & Qualifcations

• Demonstrable experience in Procurement departments within FMCG environment
• CIPS qualification, or similar, with minimum five years’ experience of working as part of a small Procurement team in a fast moving and energetic business environment.
• Preferred knowledge of bottling hall facilities.
• A good understanding of packaging supplier manufacturing processes.