Procurement Category Manager - Projects

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world. Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 17,000 people globally.

LDC is looking for a Procurement Category Manager – Project to join our Procurement team in Kansas City. In this role, you will use your knowledge of category specific supply markets to achieve greatest value contributions and benefits realizations assuring quality, total cost of ownership and service.

This encompasses: regional sourcing strategies and overall category strategy development; negotiations; contract management; Benefits tracking; Recommendation for cost reduction, supplier development and management; and Direct engagement with business partners and sourcing peers globally.

This role will focus primarily on the negotiations related to the planned investment projects in the USA and Canada. This role will occasionally report progress on major contracts to the Sr. Executive level of LDC.

Main accountabilities :

The Procurement Category Manager – Project will be accountable for activities across the 3 main activity pillars of LDC procurement function

Main focus will be given to the Source pillar with the following responsibilities for the category at stake

• Lead the negotiation for Materials, Equipment and Services that are related to the Project.
• Oversee +$250MM in annual project spend including commitments for third-party procurement activities.
• Develop and maintaining partnerships with key stakeholders including internal customers, suppliers, and project teams.
• Develop, implement and handle robust market analysis/ bench-marking processes; leverages key insights to inform and support the category strategy development process. Maintain knowledge of current trends, supplier capabilities and changes within the category landscape for traditional and emerging solutions. Conduct research via the Internet, catalogues, trade publications, and trade shows to identify potential suppliers.
• Define and implement the sourcing strategy for the projects at stake.
• Deliver value through the implementation of effective negotiation strategies that reduce both organizational costs and risks while improving supplier/business partner performance and encouraging innovation from the supply base.
• Apply knowledge in contract development including key contracting principles, standard terms, laws/regulations and industry standards. Works with internal Legal and Risk Management teams to mitigate risk through the review of both legal and business terms and conditions.
• Participate in the capital budgeting process for assigned categories within all NAM facilities.
• Administrate spend authorization to ensure appropriate approvals and controls are in place.
• Develop and build category management processes and procedures and facilitates continuous improvement.
• Defines KPIs to track the strategy realization and review compliance for Suppliers within assigned categories.
• Actively contribute to the identification and execution of possible synergies across LDC regions and countries, in relation with LDC Industry and Procurement peers, where such synergies can be based on best practice definition and enforcement or frame conditions negotiations with key international technology providers.
• With regards to the ‘Buy’ pillar, he / she will be accountable for the following
• For the largest projects, help set up or adjust the buying structure to ensure ordered goods and services are being delivered as per the need (quality / quantity / time) with respect to the order to receive processes and systems,
• Ensure goods and services are delivered as per contracted terms and conditions,
• Place and monitor Purchase Orders if needed
• With regards to the ‘Process and System’ pillar, he / she will be accountable for the following
• Supports the implementation of procurement strategies, policies and procedures.
• Participates in cross-functional training and other continuous improvement effort initiatives.
• Assists in maintaining purchasing data and systems.
• Assists with systems user training and technology implementation including regional data collection and reporting.

Knowledge and Experience:

• ~10 years in procurement in an industrial environment, with at least 3 years on project related contracts
• Proven experience in sourcing and negotiating large spend contracts (required)
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully within a cross-functional and multi-stakeholder organizational structure

Knowledge: Mastering of the Source To Contract and Purchase to Pay processes and activities

Education: Business Administration or Engineering, ideally with a major in procurement or supply chain management

Languages: English as a must have, Spanish and / or Portuguese as a nice to have

Systems: Experience with a P2P system, Experience with an ERP, ideally SAP (ECC or S/4Hana) is a nice to have, Experience with an eProcurement solution (ideally SAP Ariba) is a nice to have, Software knowledge: MS Word, Excel (advanced skill-set) and Power Point.

Other skills :

• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
• Analytical skills
• Assertive, results oriented, proactive and strategic thinking with strong personal integrity
• Ability to work under pressure with time constraints
• Ability to work with minimal supervision with solid decision making skills
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently communicate with internal and external stakeholders in verbal and written form.
• Excellent organization and follow-through skills

Interactions, Work Environment and Challenges:

The role requires many interactions with many stakeholders, both internally (Industry, Procurement, Legal, Risk, Finance) and externally (suppliers), in an international environment.

Frequent travels across North America are likely to be needed

What We Offer

We provide a dynamic and stimulating international environment, which will stretch and develop your abilities and channel your skills and expertise with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the largest and most solid private companies in the world.

- Comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental and vision care coverage, flexible spending account plans, employee assistance program, life insurance and disability coverage
- 401k with Company Match
- Family Friendly Benefits including childbirth and parental leave, fertility and family building benefits
- Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays
- Hybrid work available (not applicable to all roles)

Diversity & Inclusion

LDC is driven by a set of shared values and high ethical standards, with diversity and inclusion being part of our DNA. LDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, equity and inclusion.

LDC encourages diversity, supports local communities and environmental initiatives. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Equal employment opportunity (EEO)

Louis Dreyfus Company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Sustainability

Sustainable value is at the heart of our purpose as a company.

We are passionate about creating fair and sustainable value, both for our business and for other value chain stakeholders: our people, our business partners, the communities we touch and the environment around us