Packaging Sustainability Program Category Manager - Bensheim, Germany

Packaging Sustainability Program Category Manager (m/w/d)

For our Global Procurement Team we are looking for a Packaging Sustainability Program Category Manager based in Bensheim.

Responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive sustainability strategy with a three to five year roadmap for sustainable packaging programmes and projects to be executed at a global and regional level in support of the Healthy Planet pillar in partnership with the Sustainable Packaging Swat Team, the Global Packaging Category team and other key stakeholders.
• Support the Category Manager in developing category management strategies and evaluating multi-year budget opportunities as well as leading/participating in annual execution projects to achieve business goals and outcomes.
• Address opportunities to achieve the company's commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050 through sustainable packaging solutions, e.g. reusable materials, reducing total waste by at least 15% by 2025;
• Develop business cases and execution plans to drive Dentsply Sirona's sustainable packaging programs, create project charters and project plans to implement strategies and work closely with the technical and procurement teams on site to implement packaging solutions.
• Manage the reporting of financial savings and risk mitigation in Dentsply Sirona reporting systems, liaises with Finance, Legal and Marketing departments to validate savings, inflation and risk, uses GEP and Power BI to manage procurement data, performs analytical assessments and reports on the savings value of procurement projects.
• Add value in finding new sustainable packaging solutions for alternative and/or dual sourced materials, mitigates risk of business continuity risk assessments, focuses on implementation of standard products and, if required, new product launches.
• Initiate customer-focused sustainable packaging solution projects with waste reduction sites in close proximity to our customers and in alignment with product groups, assesses the value of packaging changes to drive collaborative cross-functional team decisions for investment in sustainable packaging solutions.
• Work closely with global category managers to integrate sustainability strategy into sub-category strategies.
• Manage and/or participates in tenders per packaging sub-category and priority, including new sustainable sources.
• Support Category Managers in the execution of improvement projects, e.g. supplier and material consolidation, sustainability improvements when transitioning materials, "like for like" qualifications when transitioning to other materials/suppliers, total cost of ownership compliance, sustainable, cost effective solutions and minimum packaging requirements for food/medical products;
• Manage category management responsibilities to include revenue risks, critical business risks and growth drivers.
• Participate in and lead due diligence reviews as part of the company's Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to proactively address financial and operational risks prior to entering into relationships with new suppliers. BCPs to assess risks, alternatives and sustainable dual sources.

Requirements and qualification

• Works with cross-functional teams as an expert to advise on the best material alternatives that create value for customers and stakeholders across the value chain (cradle to grave);
• Informs project teams on "off-the-shelf" and "customised" sustainable packaging solutions, the manufacturing process and creates awareness of key principles and standards for sustainable packaging components, material conversion and production process requirements, leading to maximum value in sourcing cost-effective packaging materials;
• Consults with Procurement, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, Customer Knowledge and Clinical departments at local and global sites to contribute to packaging and demonstrate a good understanding of medical device requirements, labelling and regulations.
• Supports the site technical team in the validation of packaging components for existing and new products to verify they meet the sustainability criteria of the company's sustainability strategy to minimise the impact of packaging on the environment and communities;
• Supports site teams in managing change plans for global and regional programmes and works with local site resources on local change plans;
• Supports impact assessments to facilitate procurement initiated change plans, point of contact for projects to implement procurement savings/risk mitigation;
• Compile sustainability data to facilitate packaging specification updates by local technical teams
• Submits proposals for RFP improvements, e.g. SKU rationalisations, alternative materials/suppliers for RFP inclusion, RFP/RFQ scope of work;
• Ability to travel (5-10%)
• Bachelor's degree in packaging engineering, sustainable manufacturing, supply chain management or similar focus on sustainability or materials science; MBA desired
• In-depth knowledge of sustainable packaging designs and structures with at least six (6) years of experience in strategic sourcing/procurement roles with sustainability and/or packaging engineering, business administration, category management
• At least five (5) years managing/leading projects in packaging technology.
• Knowledge of the use of AI for the development of a sustainable category strategy
• Collecting, analysing and structuring large amounts of data, experience in interpreting data/deriving answers to solve problems leading to strategic decisions
• Knowledge of applying science-based targets, carbon accounting
• Experience in evaluating sustainable materials based on greenhouse gas emissions and deriving results for supplier selection in tenders using greenhouse gas emissions as a criterion for lower carbon emissions/Scope 3
• Understanding and applying information on commodity market trends to develop negotiation and category management strategies for all packaging sub-categories.
• Experience in developing category strategies, conducting contract negotiations, developing business cases and sourcing in Best Cost Country (BCC)
• Strong negotiation skills (development and execution of negotiation strategies)
• Experience in a regulated industry (food/pharma/medical device) preferred, including understanding of FDA, cGMP 21 CFR 820, quality system regulations and ISO 9000/14000 preferred, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), SmartSolve.
• Knowledge of sustainability requirements, ISO, ASTM and ISTA standards and packaging test methods.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills in English. Other languages (German, Italian) are a plus.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel/Pivot tables, analysing data. Skills in PowerPoint presentations and executive presentations with a high level of attention to detail.