Global Category Manager - Chemicals

Company Description

Veolia Group is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees. Specializing in water, energy, and waste management. Veolia Group designs and implements innovative solutions for decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration, supporting communities and industries in their ecological transformation. Within this framework, Veolia’s Water Technology business brings together a dedicated team of experienced professionals committed to tackling the world’s most complex challenges related to water scarcity, quality, productivity, and energy.

Together, we pursue a shared mission to create a more sustainable future.

Veolia Water Tech is a worldwide leader in water recovery, treatment, and reuse. We design and supply a range of water systems, from food and beverage applications to municipal water, microelectronics, ultrapure water, and heavy industrial wastewater treatment.

At Veolia, we realise diverse teams make smarter decisions, deliver better results, and build stronger communities. We’re an organisation that champions diversity and inclusion at every rung of the ladder and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We offer challenging and meaningful careers, with competitive benefits and flexible work arrangements.

The Global Category Manager
- Chemicals will report into the Director Global Category Management Chemicals, Chemicals Category ~$100M spend portfolio and will be responsible for developing, validating, and implementing the global Procurement strategy for sub-categories within the portfolio. In this role, the Global Category leader will work with Product Managers, Regional Category Leader, Technology, and Supply Chain Leaders.

Key Characteristics:

• Defines a Global Category Strategy for assigned Categories that drives continuous improvement within the Category and benefits to the business
• Develop and implement a comprehensive global sourcing strategy for Polymers, Amines & Chelants & Hydrocarbon Solvent, including raw materials, intermediates, and specialty chemicals.
  
  - Identify market trends, supply chain risks, and opportunities for innovation and optimization within the category.
• Develops/Manages Preferred Supplier Network, Strategic Suppliers
• Defines Contracting Strategy and leads Supplier Negotiations
• Drives Cash Improvements across assigned Categories
• Mitigate Risks to the business by driving a comprehensive Sole/Single/Dual Source strategy that builds a flexible supply chain and ensures continuity of supply
• Develop a Best Cost Country strategy that drives the purchases to the location with optimal Total Landed Cost
• Drive supplier relationship management processes, including leading periodic business reviews to monitor and manage supplier performance and value proposition KPI's (cost, quality service, etc.)

Influence & Change Management:

• Obtains agreement of the strategy from all business stakeholders and publishes it for all users to access
• Facilitative Leadership Reports to Leadership on Market Trends and Category Performance
• Responsible for maintaining ongoing dialogue with the regional procurement teams, regional category managers, Global Product Managers & Technology dept. on key supplier issues

Hard

Skills:

• Negotiation skills and ability to influence with competencies in general expense contract requirements/nuances.
• Familiarity with market trends and key suppliers for Polymers, Amines & Chelants & Hydrocarbon solvents.
• Strategy development and implementation.
• Conduct market research and analysis to stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitor activities.
• Share insights and recommendations with senior leadership to inform strategic decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, safety standards, and sustainability practices in procurement activities.
• Lead contract negotiations with suppliers to achieve favorable terms and conditions, ensuring compliance with corporate policies.
• Develop and manage contract lifecycle processes, including renewals and compliance tracking.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent verbal/written communication and interpersonal…