Category Manager - Minerals and Pigments

As the Category Sourcing Manager for South East and South Asia at AkzoNobel, your role involves providing strategic direction and leadership for the Minerals + Pigments & Colorants category. Your responsibilities include: - Developing and deploying global and regional sourcing strategy for the category and relevant sub-categories - Leading and managing strategic supplier management regionally & globally - Influencing internal stakeholders and business teams strategically on a global & regional scale - Exhibiting leadership behaviors to both the category team and suppliers - Leading and delivering regional and global projects specific to the category - Implementing strategic cost management through e-tenders, negotiation, and contract management - Ensuring year-on-year value creation in line with company and functional goals - Collaborating with the Technical Category Lead to develop a technical roadmap, including critical projects and initiatives - Building and sustaining a vendor base encompassing current and prospective vendors - Contributing proactively to AkzoNobel's Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi) - Developing alternate raw materials with the Business Unit Technical Lead, mitigating single/sole source material risks - Demonstrating high levels of global collaboration and cooperation Qualifications/ Education required for this role: - Graduate in Science/Business Economics - Masters in Business Administration or Supply Chain preferred - Minimum of 5 years experience in a strategic sourcing role with similar complexity, spend size, and geography - Excellent communication skills in English - Proven experience in global or regional sourcing roles, change management, and leading strategic projects - Superior influencing skills General skills needed: - Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills - Proficient in problem solving, project management, team working/building - Ability to work under minimal supervision with broad direction - Continuous Improvement leadership ability - Ability to establish common ground within the organization Functional Skills required: - Strategic sourcing, category management, advanced negotiation skills, contract management - Knowledge of the global and regional paints & coatings industry and preferred knowledge of pigments/minerals categories - Proficiency in multiple data platforms such as SAP and BI - Strong analytical skills: highly numerate, structured, and accurate - Capable of performing, understanding, and presenting detailed information analysis and evaluation - Flexible, agile, and stress-resistant - Fluent in English - Hands-on experience with international business culture You will work closely with regional and global colleagues, functional and business leadership, and strategic suppliers in this role.,