Senior Category Buyer Sponsorships

At AB InBev, dreaming big is what we do. Brewing the world's most loved beers, building iconic brands like Bud, Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Tripel Karmeliet, Leffe and crafting meaningful moments are what inspire us.
We're a team of passionate owners who aren't afraid to dream big because we know that together, we can achieve anything. To build a more sustainable, inclusive and rewarding future. Turning any challenge into an opportunity. So let's take on the challenge together.

Cheers to dreaming big

The Senior Category Buyer is responsible for development of European Category and Sourcing Strategies for assigned scope and implementation of them via strategic sourcing projects and other non-sourcing initiatives.

The Senior Category Buyer should apply business policies, standards and platforms including the agreed Category and Sourcing Management methodology.

Scope of role

• Assigned Scope: Partnerships and Experiential (XM). This includes Sponsorships, Brand Events, Brand and Trade Promo, Celebrities and Influencers categories.
• Markets in scope: WEZ.

Accountabilities

The key accountabilities for this role include but are not restricted to:

Category Strategy

• Define & execute European Category Strategy and Category roadmap;
• Participate in development of global category strategies and support their execution;
• Provide information for global/cross-zone sourcing streams and implement global and zone contracts;
• Lead and execute strategic/tactical sourcing projects (see details below);
• Manage supplier relationships and develop category Supplier Relationship Management (SRM);
• Collaborate with functional budget owners and work closely with the Category Manager, Procurement Shared Services, Global Procurement Office and other relevant commercial stakeholders;
• Maximize value for the Company through each initiative;
• Monitor Category and contracts performance, price variance and take appropriate corrective actions when needed;
• Track procurement results of the assigned area of responsibility and translate into reporting structures
• Provide input on local supply market, demands and forecasts, assess continuously market environment, supply base, and identify major industry trends and threats.

Sourcing Process

• Identify internal needs/ requirements
• Explore market and engage suppliers
• Run RFI/RFP/RFQ/eAuctions/F2F negotiations
• Ensure benefits in service levels, quality, price, etc. and drive the optimal delivery of business requirements at optimal TCO
• Develop business award scenarios and final recommendation
• Prepare and present sourcing results to DAG approvers (incl. Zone President, VP Commercial, VP Procurement, BU president etc.)
• Review, adjust, collect signatures and ensure implementation of negotiated contracts
• Resolve outstanding contract/PO issues and claims
• Complete contract termination requests & submit for approval
• Consolidate contracts locally as well as across countries
• Assure timely contract renewal and manage/plan contract expiration dates

Continuous Improvement and Innovation

• Challenge existing ways of working in order to improve procurement results and efficiency, delivering procurement targets;
• Understand and follow global and zone governance – policies and procedures. Suggest improvement opportunities;
• Increase Procurement coverage of the spend (where relevant);
• Drive proper/transparent contracting/purchasing methods;
• Identify, initiate and co-manage value creation efforts, innovation projects with internal teams and external organizations;
• Support any procurement specific project (supplier portal, excellence program, etc.).
• Request vendor or material data cleansing
• Escalate issues to Category Manager
• Manage the collaboration between our team and Marketing/Commercial function

Key contacts

• Suppliers
• Senior Category Buyers, Category Buyers and Spot buyers
• Marketing, Trade Marketing and Commercial teams
• Category Managers
• Content & IT Management Lead and Specialists
• Sourcing support and Specialists
• Legal & Compliance teams
• PTP team
• Finance team

Qualifications and technical competencies required

Education

• University Degree, preferably Master's degree;
• Fluent English. French, Dutch or another language will be considered as a plus

Skills required for success in this position

• Strong communication skills ;
• Curious and innovative mindset with the ability to build strong internal and external partnerships
• Project management skills and ability to manage complex cross-country, cross-functional scope;
• 1-3 years working experience: Procurement, Commercial, Financial and international work experience is beneficial;
• Fact driven, strong analytical skills enabling to understand cost models, sourcing results and financial and operational impact for the Company;
• Eager to drive our sustainability agenda
• DNA of Expert, Strategist and Executor
• Knowledge of Procurement processes , methods and techniques, including negotiation skills, e-sourcing tools is beneficial;
• Hands-on Procurement / Category management experience is a strong asset;
• Team player, self-starter who likes to take the initiative;
• Problem solving skills (Solution focused) & results oriented;
• Ability to impact & influence: able to influence business partners and suppliers as well as the ability to be assertive if required to ensure compliance to contracts;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective partnership working across geographic boundaries

#Ownership

Senior Category Buyer Sponsorships & Experiential

Next to our competitive base salary, we put our people first by providing on-top benefits

• Competitive Bonus
• A Flexible Rewards system - (smartphone, bike lease, internet at home, Extra pension Plan, etc.)
• Quarterly vouchers to taste our delicious beers
• Compensation & seniority days in addition to legal holidays (40 Days total)
• Meal vouchers, allowances, gift per company policy
• A unique Parental leave
• Competitive Life insurance, disability & medical plan
• Learning & Development opportunities (LinkedIn Learning/ Workday Learning/Mentoring)
• Multiple Physical & Mental Wellbeing support Initiatives

In this role, you'll have the potential to transform our business and your career. You'll get the support and mentor you need to succeed. We're a meritocracy, with plenty of room for growth and development, so you know your hard work will be rewarded. We encourage you to think big and go after your goals. You'll get to be creative, work with international teams so you can build a global network and have direct control over your career and where it takes you.
We are building a team that's more supportive, more inclusive and more collaborative. A team that's diverse in background, skills and experience.
So if you dream big but are concerned you're not a perfect fit against the job description, we'd still encourage you to apply. You may just the right candidate to help us create a future with more cheers.
As the leading global brewer, we are committed to bringing people together for a better – and more equal – world. A more equal world starts when everyone can thrive. At AB InBev we value the diversity of cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences within our workforce, and we strongly encourage women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

#LI-ABI ZoneEUR

Supplier Management, Dutch Language, Innovation, Area responsibility, Platforms, Execution, Governance, Initiative taker, RFI, Delivery, Business, RFQ, Award, Corrective Actions, eSourcing, Claims, Celebrity, French language, IT Management, Procurement, Projects, Development, Sponsorship, Contracts, Sustainability, Trading, Value Creation, Legal Compliance, RFP, Assertiveness, Sourcing strategy, DNA, Initiative taker, Implementation, Service level, Data Cleansing, Contracting, Universities, Solution Oriented, Strategies, Practicality, Asset, Strategic Sourcing, Business Policy, Budget, Finance, Result Oriented, Forecasting, Negotiation, Project Management, PTP, Problem Management, Innovation, Content, Reporting, Sourcing management, Purchasing, Cost model, Negotiation, Accountability, Provide information, Management, Marketing, Supplier Management, Category Management, Sourcing, Trade Marketing, Negotiation

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