Associate Director - Commercial (Personal Care & Home Care)

Key Responsibility:

• Set Strategic Direction for assigned cross-functional sourcing programs through collaborative development of Strategic Sourcing initiatives and Category Plans. Lead cross-functional sourcing teams.
• Review and drive Commercial Dry Grocery Non-Food activities that lead business outcomes and enhance strategic partnership with external customers and top suppliers – Makro mail, KVI, annual promotion plan, sales gap recovery action plan, special events, etc.
• Formulate Price policy and price structure by considering relevant factors and ensure of proper implementation to ensure market competitiveness
• Conduct industry deep dive analysis to support Commercial Dry Grocery Non-Food understanding of the marketplace & provide proactive insight to long term potential sourcing strategies (3+ years).
• Lead Commercial Dry Grocery Non-Food assortment strategic actions, conduct annual review and the implementation for new store, new product, core product for store type, item performance review, etc.
• Identify sourcing best practices and collaborate with cross functional team members to ensure practices are applied. Determine key metrics for supplier performance management and facilitate quarterly reviews with stakeholders.
• Conduct, review and manage budgeting and costing of Commercial Dry Grocery Non-Food in overall to ensure that they are exercised with effectiveness and efficiency
• Translate and cascade annual budget into steps of actions to achieve. Enrol and ensure understanding of each team members’ accountabilities and timely result updates; Operations and Commercial, Store Format, by customer types, by product group, by subgroup.
• Update and communications of tasks and results, agreed steps of actions, communication to other teams, deployment of execution. Meeting with Store General Managers/ Assistant Store General Managers and communicate business direction & achievement, familiarize participants with new products and updated business operations.
• Determine innovation resolutions to serve customers’ needs, market advantages, market competitiveness and sales recovery that make profitable Commercial Dry Grocery Non-Food revenue opportunity
• Conduct and review yearly budgeting (sales, margin, other income) by Category and customer, strategic planning including corporate positioning market and competitive analysis.
• Review Price Negotiation: Makro mail, KVI: Direct & indirect competitor by store, price matching with competitor, normal price setting / Price structure, new item negotiates margin and other income. Review quotation process to manage supplier negotiation, to ensure products being developed meet targeted margin and priced. Review promotion year plan, action plan for sales gap recovery, special events and activities.
• Assortment review : New store, new product, renovation, Major by yearly : core product, store type, Control No. of SKU in and out by category by buyer, new item selection, deletion item review, Plan-O-Gram review & approve, performance review by item.
• Negotiates and manages major packaging contracts, ensuring that the required quality, service, availability and budget objectives are achieved.
• Coordinates onsite visits by all critical suppliers to assure end use of supplier products are understood, production processes are reviewed, and end product flavor, texture, and look will be consistent with requirements.
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert for strategic sourcing and contract review and negotiation in assigned categories. To ensure that the variety and quality of Commercial Dry Grocery Non-Food product development are to the highest standards of quality, locally sourced, and seasonal in nature
• Coach immediate team, liaise with larger organization & suppliers to ensure results as per set strategic direction and each year budget.
• Ensure the execution of People development framework and relevant matters that build substantial functions. Develop people/team, motive, coach and build team capability to be able to deliver results

• Master or Bachelor in Business Administration, Science, Marketing or a technical / any related filed. MBA preferred.
• 15+ years professional experience in Dry Grocery Non-Food management, retail operations, and/or consumer product goods, preferred.
• 5 - 7 years strategic sourcing experience preferred.
• Department level supervisory/managerial experience of direct and indirect reports.
• Retails/Wholesales industry knowledge and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to develop market expertise and credibility in the Retail industry and/or consumer product segment, including customers, suppliers, products, applications, technology, pricing, value; industry or market problems and opportunities.
• Negotiation skills: Must possess ability to establish strong working relationships and persuade/influence others; ability to negotiate and defend pricing, contracts, and agreements with suppliers and customers in a mutually beneficial manner while maintaining professionalism and achieving goals.
• Demonstrated people/team leadership experience with proven ability to motivate, engage, and develop a high performing team. Ability to coach and provide constructive feedback to overcome performance gaps.
• Fosters Change and Innovation.
• Seeks solutions that strengthen quality, value, service and effectiveness.
• Creates Value for Customers. Anticipates and responds to market trends and opportunities.
• Demonstrates Business Acumen and Business Agility.
• Engages in effective operational and strategic planning.
• Fluent in English communication skills.
• Ability to travel 30% to suppliers, internal meetings, industry meetings, trade shows, and joint sales calls