Category Manager

A critical part of the role will involve identifying, establishing, and managing the supply chain that fits with client ethical objectives. Another crucial part of the role will be managing product development for Beauty projects: development of samples following clients' briefs and designs as well as negotiation of prices that fit budgets and will convert into sales. In first 12 to 18 months (discovery phase) product development will be the key focus to enable development of suitable ways or working and approved processes to enable shaping the category accordingly for the future.

The role will be part of the central European Sourcing team, working closely with all our European Category Managers and wider client account teams, focused on Beauty client teams, to ensure we have a market leading supply base able to meet the growing needs of our business. A key focus will be on identifying high-quality, cost-effective manufacturers within the region direct manufacturers and traders alike. Category Manager will also work closely with Beauty Clients and Design Teams to develop a product offer aligned to client's needs and requirements.

General

• Work closely with the European Category Managers and Head of European Procurement to ensure adm has a fit for purpose supplier base across Europe.
• Develop strategic sourcing solutions that add value to our clients and enhance adm's capabilities and profitability.
• Support the continued growth and success of adm Group with beauty clients by identifying new products and new sourcing routes in region, suitable for GWP and other beauty promotional activation.
• Manage product development in discovery phase; design and implement suitable WOW with regional suppliers to ensure best response rates and sample availability.
• Ensure customer service is a priority. Identify and resolve all issues relating to clients promptly.
• Participate in industry trade shows to develop and maintain business relationships, improve product knowledge, and identify potential new suppliers
• Keep abreast of the latest trends within our sector, monitor competitors' activities, and share information with team members and clients as appropriate.
• Undertake RFQ exercises for key projects, new business opportunities and regular benchmarking and analysing the outputs to deliver the best result for adm.

Sourcing

• Analyse, evaluate, and engage adm's existing supplier base, as well as potential new suppliers to develop and implement a strategic supply base for account teams to utilise that helps them to achieve the clients' and adm's objectives.
• Build strategic relationships with key European supply chain partners to enhance adm's capabilities to meet and exceed all our client's expectations.
• Analyse and evaluate new supplier capability across key criteria such as: capability, service, delivery, cost, commercial terms, compliance, sustainability, and innovation
• Actively seek to reduce the tail of the European supply base, whilst improve the breadth of the capability within our supply chain, ensuring we have the right suppliers in the right categories to meet business needs.
• Where possible seek to implement annual agreements with key supply partners to drive best in class value for adm and its clients.
• Proactively identify new, innovative suppliers who could enhance adm's offering and support our clients' sustainability agendas.
• Manage vendors to ensure products and services provided are of high quality, are cost effective and are delivered OTIF.
• Ensure suppliers provide required level of transparency and compliance.
• Diligently follow-up with suppliers on all briefs over a certain value
• Communicate order/project status to key stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of orders and the onboarding of suppliers.

Stakeholder management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders internally and externally.
• Be a partner of choice for key strategic suppliers, ensuring adm benefits from market leading rates and service.
• Demonstrate effective negotiation skills.
• Provide professional presentations to stakeholders as and when required.
• Where required attend key client meetings to ensure we align and deliver against the client's Marketing and Procurement strategies.
• Have the desire to keep abreast of competitor offerings
• To collect and respond to customer feedback in a timely manner.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the business.
• Engage with procurement Beauty teams in other regions (APAC, US) to share best practices and innovations related to the industry

The successful candidate will need to be adept at managing supplier relationships, ensuring smooth and high-quality product development process, negotiating, problem solving, and balancing the requirements of a variety of stakeholders. They will have responsibility for meeting and exceeding commercial targets and establishing a strategic framework in which our account teams can operate.

adm is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse

environment. We recruit, employ, develop, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. Should you need any reasonable adjustments made to this application process, please don't hesitate to let us know.

As a next-generation brand activation agency, adm Indicia's purpose is to simplify our clients' below-the-line marketing, build sustainable ROI and engage their customers across the path to purchase. Everything we do is optimised through leading strategic capability and actioned through executional excellence.

We transform marketing compromise into a powerful co-promise, creating and activating meaningful brand experiences that drive ROI. Brands have had to juggle multiple agencies, struggle to see value in ever-increasing customer data, and deliver disconnected digital and physical experiences – just some of the compromise frustrating marketing for too long. With joined-up strategy, execution and seamless activation, our combined expertise means we can help brands deliver impact through every stage of the customer journey.

Founded in 1992, we have a global footprint with 46 offices in 33 countries, allowing us to deliver local activation of global strategies for brands across the world. Recognized with a platinum rating by EcoVadis for sustainability, we are experts at identifying the most impactful and sustainable solutions for over 800 brands around the globe.