Assistant Procurement Manager- Logistic

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. 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 customer’s 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.

Background & Purpose of the Job

Unilever Logistics Procurement Transportation is embedded within the Supply Chain in a variety of places from inbound freight delivering to our manufacturing sites to the delivery of finished goods to our customers.  HUL transportation spend is approximately 900 CR across 100 sourcing units in several modes of transportation.

This role is about Professional sourcing of logistics services (Surface Transportation, Freight) for FG movement meeting the specified needs of the Business at most favorable commercial terms. Directly Manage an annual spend of 900 Cr and 3p employees.

Areas of exploration include but are not limited to growing strategic relationships, RPA, Digital Freight Matching and Dedicated Fleets, exploring new technologies such as autonomous and alternative fuel vehicles and other logistics innovations. 

As a Lead within Procurement, position will be visible to other leads within the organization with heavy focus on Logistics Operations and Finance as well as other key Supply Chain departments. 

Key Accountabilities:

• Leveraged Buying: Consistently leverage volumes across India based on ‘Logistics’ spend forecasts to maximize terms from suppliers;
• Strategic Sourcing: Capitalizing on the Low Cost models and develop regional/global vendors

• Buying Process Improvement: Improve negotiations through rigorous implementation of the 7 steps of strategic sourcing and developing appropriate sourcing strategies
• Benchmarking: Continuously strive to improve processes in accordance with established industry processes.
• One Unilever: Work within Global network of buyers to leverage sourcing opportunities.

• Identification, filtering and development of capabilities of new and existing service providers
• Development and governance of Joint Business Development Plans with key strategic suppliers.
• Follow market conditions, prepare price trends and formulate future markets trends for the business.

• Support the Logistics Supply Chain with accurate price forecasting for Logistics spends. Prepares information on purchase prices and conditions to enable proper budgeting and cash forecasting.
• Drafting of logistics Procurement strategy document
• Delivery of the Cost and cash targets for the Logistics function.
• Manage supply chain issues/adversities. (e.g. crisis management).

•  Measure and manage overall performance of suppliers

The work involved for the procurement executive is as under –

1. Supply Market Intelligence and Analysis

1.1 Market Benchmarking

1.2 Analyzing Supply and Demand Market Behavior

1.3 Understanding Key Cost Drivers and Price Trends

1.4 Applying Market Insights

1.5 Costing

1.6 Communicating and Sharing Market Intelligence

2. Supplier Selection and Development

2.1 Analyzing Suppliers

2.2 Screening and Selecting Suppliers

2.3 Constructing Supplier Agreements

2.4 Assessing Supplier Performance

2.5 Supplier Qualification

3. Managing Alliances and Relationships

3.1 Assessing and Reviewing the Supplier Relationship

3.2 Managing the Ongoing Relationship to Deliver Value to the Business

3.3 Managing a Collaborative Relationship to generate benefits for both organizations

3.4 Creating an Integrated Network

3.5 Managing Collaborative Contract Agreements with Suppliers

3.6 Delivering Deal Compliance

4. Negotiations and contracting

4.1 Understanding freight cost for previous year for all factories

4.2 Bifurcate the total cost into part load as well as full load/container truck types

4.3 Identifying cluster opportunities for part load

4.4 Invite suppliers for online event

4.5 Select top lanes for reverse auction to drive cost reduction

4.6 Award business to suppliers basis cost quality and service

4.7 Sustainability initiatives in the area of logistics

4.8 Safety initiatives in transportation

5. Master updates and payments

5.1 Collaborate with stakeholders for timely master updates of freight rates in relevant systems

5.2 Understand volumetric and non-volumetric freight rate calculation and apply to business problems

5.3 Manage Ad hoc rate updates without errors

5.4 Custodian of inward freight payment by authorizing deviations on a timely basis.

6. Leading value chain pillars

6.1 Lead the savings agenda with operations to unlock savings

6.2 Opportunities for clubbing, detention reduction and multi modal transportation  and joint buying opportunities

Day to day responsibilities:

• Develop and align own work plan, priorities, and processes within the context of the overall global procurement and logistics priorities and processes.
• Identify, initiate and sustain direct interactions with appropriate internal stakeholders / functional / operating teams within the business to drive “procurement” behavior change required to meet business project expectations and facilitate implementation of the approved sourcing strategies.
• Conduct data gathering and analysis of internal needs.  Develop and follow supply market knowledge and insight (e.g. suppliers, price trends, cost drivers, acquisitions & disposals etc.).
• Develop appropriate sourcing strategies.
• Execute the sourcing strategy, including tendering, analysis, selection of and negotiation with suppliers, including crafting and placing of legal agreements / contracts and c agreements and ensure that all are conducted in accordance with Unilever’s code of business ethics and corporate social responsibility requirements.
• Ensure that supply agreements, commercial terms & conditions, specification information and pricing information including changes is communicated accurately and in a timely fashion to appropriate operational teams/individuals. 
• Enable and facilitate the implementation of the approved sourcing strategies with appropriate functional and operational teams within the business.
• Responsible for ongoing supplier relationship management of the key strategic providers, monitoring, review and continuous improvement as well as leading supplier side of innovation/sustainability/cost savings projects
• In the context of Partner to Win, to identify, develop and manage strategic business relationships to enable implementation of the Unilever growth strategy, revenue achievement and new product development initiatives
• Develop a deep understanding of and rigorously apply the Unilever strategic sourcing process and tools, including being fully operational and using e-Sourcing tools e.g. use of e-RFIs, e-RFPs, cost modelling and others.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives and represent Unilever's interests in the management of external strategic relationships.
• Lead timely system driven updates for ongoing and key networks with the help of CG
• Timely audit of rate masters to ensure payments are happening as per contract and avoid control lapses.

What You’ll Need To Succeed:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field of study
• No of years of experience: Flexible
• People management skills with emphasis on listening
• A strong command of the English language – both written and spoken – with an ability to convey often complex data to a variety of audiences
• Proficient in analytical tools such as Excel and Power bi
• A tenacious commitment to solving hurdles.
• Proven abilities in Stakeholder Management
• Thinker, innovator; somebody who would not accept status quo
• Strong communication skills

D&I statement:

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 

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