Purchasing Category Manager

Role Overview

Manage the purchase of materials, equipment and services for internal company use.  Select and manage suppliers to ensure best value, quality, and performance.  Establish and manage supplier contracts. Minimize supply continuity risk and minimize Kodak’s liability. 

Responsibilities:

• Category Knowledge and Strategy: For your responsible categories, understand suppliers, market trends, risks, and opportunities. Develop strategy to optimize approach to the supply market  
• Supplier Selection: Coordinate competitive selection events (e.g., RFP, RFQ, auction). Manage cross-functional team in supplier selection 
• Negotiation: Negotiate with suppliers to obtain the best deal for Kodak. Work closely with internal Kodak clients to understand requirements, and to develop various acceptable alternative negotiated outcomes. 
• Contract Management: Write contracts and obtain all appropriate internal review and approvals. Monitor key term dates of contracts for which you are responsible: ensure that renewals and notices are met on-time. Communicate contract terms to Kodak users, and periodically review contracts for term compliance. 
• Supplier Relationship Management: Ensure good communication and effective transactions (e.g., forecasts, on-time delivery, on-time payment). Monitor supplier quality, and address quality issues. Seek innovative new ideas from suppliers. Coordinate regular (e.g. quarterly) business reviews with critical suppliers. 
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with Kodak Procurement Procedures (as well as Purchasing-related aspects of other Procedures (e.g. Data Security, HSE, Legal) 
• Risk Management: Ensure that critical suppliers have business continuity plans in place. Communicate supply risks to the Kodak business, and cooperate on internal mitigation plans (e.g., increased safety stock, development of 2nd source).  Keep abreast of changing risk profiles in the market and for specific suppliers and communicate accordingly. 
• Project Management and Support: Identify opportunities for process improvement within the Category, kick-off and manage the project. (For example, work with critical suppliers to automate transactions).  Support Procurement organization project initiatives (e.g. system implementation, acquisition, divestitures) 

Skills:

• Negotiation Skills
• Technical Knowledge is required in certain categories (e.g. chemical buying)
• SAP knowledge (or experience with another ERP system) 
• Data analysis and ability to manage complex spreadsheets
• Basic financial analysis: cost analysis, business case development, and ability to read financial statements to understand supplier financial health 
• Understanding of legal terms, including incoterms
• Organization, communication, conflict management, project management, problem-solving, and teamwork