Procurement Specialist - Soft Commodities (Oil EU)

There has never been a more exciting time to be working in Procurement when you consider the sheer scale of what we are seeking to grow the business whilst doing better for our planet and our society. As Unilever Procurement adapts to the ever-dynamic business environment, we will need to be agile to continue our track record of delivery in contributing to the top and bottom line. Inevitably, given the consistent and high quality of our delivery over the past few years, we will be asked to continue this rate of performance and indeed go over and above this standard to ensure the value provided is further enhanced across the scope of our remit. As well as ensuring that we are best in class in delivering the basics, we also have to look to the future and continuously evolve to meet the needs of our changing environment - reinventing ourselves for sustained competitive advantage. Our suppliers are at the heart of everything we do. We need to work more closely than ever with suppliers to co-create sustainable practices and bigger and better innovations. This places great demands on the skills and expertise of all of us as Procurement professionals.   

A successful Procurement Assistant Manager is expected to be:   

• Exceptional at generating innovative ideas that are future-fit and contribute to establishing a sustainable competitive edge. 

• Proficient in persuasively presenting these ideas to both internal and external business partners, skillfully transforming them into compelling proposals that articulate and convey their value effectively. 

• Highly appreciative of the significance and impact of flawless execution, demonstrating an acute attention to detail. 

• Assumes the role of an entrepreneur, treating the business as if it were their own, setting trends, and demonstrating the willingness to take the lead, follow, or adapt as needed. 

• Functions as a dedicated ambassador for Partner with Purpose, exemplifying the value that Procurement brings to the organization. 

• Demonstrates a sincere commitment to Unilever's sustainable business model, actively engaging with Unilever's broader agenda and aligning with its sustainability goals.  

Key accountabilities:  

• Support to structure and manage key partnerships within Oils portfolio to deliver against value, purpose and future-fit goals.  

• Support developing and implementing strategies and assess, identify, and select the appropriate supplier base that would meet the needs of the business.  

• Work closely with S&I, Suppliers and Commodity Risk Team and collect, monitor, and manage market information, provide analysis and price forecasts.  

• Support the business with accurate price forecasting, prepare information on purchase prices and conditions to enable proper budgeting and cash forecasting.  

• Identify metrics, tools, and process to optimize sourcing, supplier activities and efficiencies.  

• Work closely with Ice Cream Business and suppliers to drive key initiatives such as Sustainable Sourcing, NDPE, RSP, aligned with Unilever Sustainable Living Plan  

• Support to initiate and drive complexity reduction (e.g., harmonization of specifications and suppliers)  

• Work with IC R&D teams to drive initiatives on supplier approvals / savings reformulations.   

• To support delivering cost savings based on sourcing strategies, compliance management and cash targets.  

• Support and manage supply chain issues (e.g., crisis management).  

• Measure and manage overall performance of suppliers.  

• Continuously improve ways of working and optimize procurement activities.  

• Support strategic initiatives across Ice Cream Procurement Team based on the Lighthouse Strategy, including but not limited to Value Chain Analysis, Vertical Integration 

• Support cross-functional initiatives and represent Unilever's interests in the management of external strategic relationships.  

Experience Required:  

• University degree   

• >3 years’ experience in Procurement, Supply Chain or R&D; experience in Raw Material/Commodity purchasing is a big plus.  

Skills:  

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications, particularly in Microsoft Excel 

• Strong on execution, have analytical skills and be pro-active.  

• Business acumen and negotiation skills 

• Be result and solution oriented; be able to solve (unexpected) problems  

• Able to build relationships with people across the business (internally & externally). 

• Multi-level communication and being a good team player 

• Self-starter with strong accountability, responsibility, and leadership skills  

• Supplier risk management and Supplier relationship management  

• Comfortable to work with key procurement interfaces such as SAP CLM, USQS, SRS, Velocity, BPC Hana, etc 

• Fluency in English, proficiency in another language is a plus 

Additional Information:

• Hybrid Work (you can work from home 2/3 days per week)

• 4 weeks of Flex Work per year: Opportunity to work remotely for the entire week without coming into the office.

• Flexible hours: Work hours with a wide range of starting and ending times to accommodate your needs.

• Restaurant Card and canteen service in our offices.

• Parking: Possibility of parking at the offices at a reduced cost and with free electric chargers.

• Online language courses.

• Wellbeing Programs: Resources and activities to promote physical, mental, emotional, and purposeful wellbeing.

• Online store with exclusive discounts on UL products and other recognized brands.

• And many more!

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.