Regional Category Manager - Americas Indirect

Regional Category Manager - Americas Indirect

Perfetti Van Melle (makers of Mentos, Airheads, Dentyne, Trident, and Bubblicious) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of confectionery and chewing gum. We’re currently seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Regional Category Manager, Indirect Materials to join our growing team.

This role will lead the Indirect Category Management activities within the region and support global Indirect Category Management activities, including supply market studies, supplier scanning, negotiations, stakeholder management, information sharing, reporting, budgeting, etc. The role will also support SAP Ariba implementation projects and lead Procurement processes and implementation.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Manages and grows PVM’s relationships with all its vendors in consonance with Group procurement’s Vision, with special emphasis on Strategic Vendors.
• Manages supplier performance to maximize value delivered by strategic suppliers for selected categories.
• Leads supplier review meetings engaging with senior supplier stakeholders to drive supplier performance in the region and manage regional performance issues.
• Leverages supplier KPI scorecards and supplier performance reports to inform the supplier review process.
• Brings sustainability and innovation capabilities of strategic suppliers into PVM Group and supports Group’s development in these areas.
• Supports local procurement on claim handling, supplier agreements, and trouble shooting.
• Leads the Budget/LE/Price Forecast processes in the region, including overall quality and timeline control.
• Collects data from each OC and verifies local buyers inputs with GPS team’s support.
• Responsible for delivering GPS category indices for global portfolios with regional input based on market and supplier analysis.
• Responsible for the unit rate inputs together for Global & Regional execution categories and coordinates with GCM for global categories.
• Responsible for overall result and presentation to stakeholders.
• Supports functional budget owners to set up annual budgets.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; procurement specialization preferred.
• Supply chain/procurement certification or equivalent experience a plus.
• 8+ years of professional experience in strategic procurement.
• Proven experience with implementing SAP Ariba for Procurement on both process and user sides.
• Extensive overall knowledge of various functional domains related to Procurement Processes; e.g., Order to Cash, Purchase to Pay, Catalogue Buying Systems and Supplier Market Places.
• Wide and deep knowledge of relevant Indirect Procurement categories (facilities, ICT, MRO, travel, logistics) including the supplier base.
• Sustainable sourcing experience a plus.
• Ability to quickly build a professional network in new markets.
• Project management and well‑developed negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical skills, including Excel, data analysis, report generation, etc.
• Experience in contract and risk management.
• Strong strategic business case development and stakeholder management/presentation/communication skills at senior management level.
• Understanding of Source to Pay process.
• Bilingual, Spanish fluency a plus.

• PTO package including vacation, sick, personal, and pay‑it‑forward time off.
• 13 paid holidays.
• 401(k) with company match up to 8%, ranking in the top 1% of the country.
• Annual bonus potential and merit‑based increases.
• Comprehensive health insurance.
• Annual well‑being subsidy.
• 20 weeks maternity and 12 weeks paternity leave options.
• Sam’s Club or Costco annual membership reimbursement.
• Tuition‑free college program or free continued education (BA, Masters, etc.).
• Modest monthly candy allotment (Airheads, Airheads Xtremes, and Mentos).

Perfetti Van Melle, USA is an equal‑opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Nearest Major Market:
Cincinnati.