Assistant Procurement Manager – Utilities

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don't believe in the 'one size fits all' approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

ABOUT PROCUREMENT

Part of the Supply Chain family, Procurement is responsible for over 30B Euro of material and services spend globally with more than 60,000 suppliers, over half of them in MBS. Getting the right services and materials, sustainably sourced and ensuring responsible procurement is critical to ensuring our brands with purpose grow. Our teams work closely with the business to understand stakeholders' needs, bring innovation to meet changing consumer, employees', and customers' needs, and drive financial value for Unilever through competitive buying. We're at the forefront of digital procurement, bringing new tools and analytics to drive data-based decisions.

Our strategy is 'Procurement with Purpose' and focuses on buying responsibly, buying better, and growing together with partners around the world. Our ambition is based on three key drivers: being Purpose-Led, Value-Driven, and Future-Fit.

Within Capex and Utilities, the Assistant Procurement Manager Utilities & Decarbonization is responsible for the sourcing strategy development, implementation, and procurement in the Utilities procurement category for their geography. This role will be responsible for achieving our decarbonization strategy to Scope 1, 2 and 3 (Green House Gas (GHG) emissions that the company makes directly and indirectly in all value chain) from a Procurement standpoint in support of our business strategy covering the European region. This role forms a key business partner with Supply chain, Sustainability team and Engineering at supply chain sites.

The Assistant Procurement Manager will increase efficiency of our Utilities and Decarbonization procurement by driving scale where it makes sense, decreasing fragmentation, pooling expertise across the European region, prioritizing higher impact spend areas, leveraging technology and data, and delivering on best practices.

JOB PURPOSE

Unilever is the place where you can bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. If you are willing to join a strong passionate multicultural team and contribute directly to the Unilever Decarbonization commitments then this role is just for you

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

• Specialist for Thermal Procurement, including Natural Gas, Biomethane, Biomass, Biofuels, GPPA's (Gas Power Purchase agreements)

• Be accountable for the implementation of the Utilities and Decarbonization Procurement strategies and best practices across EU.

• Support and guide the procurement organization across EU's Factories to meet goals and objectives in support of the overall Unilever Strategy.

• Pro-actively engage with the utility & decarbonization procurement leads and peers to understand the strategic plan in their region and drive best practices.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with stakeholders and user communities across Unilever business by being the critical point of contact for Europe.

• Engage with key suppliers (Utilities, Decarbonization) and develop understanding of their capabilities and solutions. Be aware of industry key drivers, new technologies, and new sustainability capabilities.

• Help develop and execute ongoing communications with the business for the selected sourcing strategies and progress.

• Support identifying opportunities across Supply Chain and their connections with Utilities, Decarbonization, Renewable Sources.

• Take ownership on and lead projects in procurement across the key areas of Partnership with Purpose (PWP), Responsible Partner Policy (RPP), Sustainability, Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), Savings, Cash and People & Well-being.

• Support Global Utilities on project basis on Thermal related projects.

Business Relationship Management

• Establish successful Ways of Working (WoW) between stakeholders and Procurement.

• Develop and execute ongoing communications with the stakeholders for the selected sourcing strategies and progress within area of spend responsibility.

• Manage the relationship with key supplier partner as part of the portfolio in the context of the Unilever Partner with Purpose (PWP) programme.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED

Experiences & Qualifications

ESSENTIAL

• Experienced (5+ years) in a procurement role.

• Experience in Utilities procurement areas.

• Experienced in setting up and managing complex supplier contracts.

• Skilled in delivering to challenging value delivery targets.

• A proven commercial operator and excellent negotiator.

• Experienced in stakeholder and supplier management.

• Strong communicator with experience in working successfully in virtual team environments.

• Skilled at challenging business stakeholders and driving change.

Skills

• Experience buying utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water, Renewable Energy) and managing decarbonization projects.

• Specific experience in Thermal procurement including Natural Gas, Biomethane, Biomass, Biofuels, GPPA's (Gas Power Purchase agreements) would be beneficial.

• Experience in engineering and renewable technologies is a plus.

• Ability to run Tenders, analyse sourcing data and conceptualise sourcing strategies to identify / propose sourcing opportunities while setting Portfolio strategy or developing negotiation strategies.

• Influencing skills to promote ideas and concepts back to stakeholders and budget holders in a Business Partner capacity.

• Attention to detail and ability to assimilate, appraise and extract information quickly when faced with increasing data inputs.

• Problem solving skills to analyse information to evaluate internal demand and external supplier information and extract critical cost opportunities.

• Thorough and astute preparation and approach for external contract negotiation.

• Financial understanding of the supplier cost models and lifetime cost of acquisition.

• Advanced negotiation abilities to develop win-win situations with key suppliers.

• A Partner with Purpose (PWP) ambassador. Innovative thinking to measure and promote supplier performance. Curiosity to use, or suggest adaptations to, new technology to provide cost reducing or value creating support.

• Skilled at challenging business stakeholders and driving change.

• Ability to communicate effectively in English.

Leadership

• You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.

• As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.

Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors

• PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results. Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed.

• PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Actively builds own wellbeing and resilience.

• CONSUMER & CUSTOMER LOVE: Brings the voice of the consumer into everything we do, always.

• PURPOSEFUL IMPACT: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.

• AGILITY: Explores the world around them, continually learning and developing their skills.

• TALENT CATALYST: Inspire people to grow, with support and honesty.

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Hybrid work and flexibility.

• Opportunities for the development and improvement of qualifications.

• Sharing the cost of professional training & courses.

• Benefits: life insurance, private medical care, pension fund, sharing the cost of sports activities, Benefits System – Cafeteria and many others.

• Extra days off to take care of yourself and others.

• Unilever store - Our products at attractive prices.

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.