Category Manager

Come Join an Inclusive Team

The LYB Category Manager plays a crucial role in driving the success of a specific goods or services category within the company. This includes, but is not limited to developing and implementing effective sourcing strategies to achieve overall value for the assigned category.

• Develops, deploys and manages the procurement sourcing strategies for goods and services required to support company operations.  
• These goods and services are less complex, narrower in focus and tend to be more transparent markets than those led by the Sr. Category Manager. 
• May manage multi-year/multi-million dollar expenditures negotiated and contracted utilizing national agreements.
• Utilizes comprehensive and systemic market analysis for the goods or services procured to drive lowest total cost and maximum value to the company
• Manages effective stakeholder and supplier relationships up to the senior level. 

A Day in the Life

• Develops and implements comprehensive strategic category strategies that align with overall business objectives and follow approved processes and sourcing strategy methodology. 
• Utilizes market analysis to identify trends, competitor activities and opportunities within a category. Promotes cross-functional teams in assessing risks and developing models associated with supply and technical compliance.
• Manages the assortment of goods or services within the category to ensure that it meets stakeholders’ needs and expectations.
• Ensures the deployment of strategic purchasing plans driven by stakeholder requirements, manufacturing results and capabilities, distribution and logistics objectives and business economics.
• Negotiates legal terms, commercial terms and pricing as part of the critical contract development and execution phase.
• Implements measurement systems used to track and evaluate category performance and identify continuous improvement opportunities to enhance category performance. 
• Maintains focus on added value, lowest total “life cycle” cost and cost savings.
• Maintains and promotes excellent working relationships with stakeholders, key business partners and suppliers.
• Understands that strong relationships help to deliver on mutually beneficial solutions. 
• Performs spend analysis by collecting and analyzing spend data
• Performs market analysis by doing market research and understanding the supplier landscape, capabilities market trends and pricing models and by doing benchmarking which includes comparing current prices and supplier performance against market standards to identify potential improvements.
• Ensures that business drivers, departmental goals and measures are aligned.
• Recognized as a leader and an expert in assigned segments and/or categories providing knowledge and expertise.
• Leads supplier engagement efforts including but not limited to reviewing supplier performance against agreed upon KPIs and SLAs, developing and implementing supplier continuous improvement initiatives and monitoring suppliers’ sustainability performance.
• Identifies and selects suppliers who prioritize sustainability practices, contributing to our company’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
• Maintains relationships and leads discussions with key suppliers on sustainable improvement potential based on sustainability audit scores, aligns with key suppliers on future actions and follows up on progress.
• Supports LYB’s global footprint by having a global mindset that harnesses an understanding of global trends, geopolitical dynamics and economic forces shaping the world.  This includes an awareness of international business practices, regulatory frameworks and market trends. 
• Leads Advancing Supplier Potential (ASP) initiatives
• Drives digitalization efforts together with business partners and key suppliers to reach industry-shaping productivity levels

You Bring This Value

As a Category Manager at LYB you are expected to consistently demonstrate proficiency in the following:

• Collaboration (including cross-functional, cross-cultural)
• Relationship management
• Leveraging strategic relationships with both stakeholders (internal) and suppliers (external)
• Demonstrating strategic influence
• Selling ideas
• Presentation skills art
• Multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment
• Working independently in an ambiguous environment
• Achieving strategic alignment with both stakeholders and Procurement leaders
• Serving as a change agent, demonstrating change management leadership skills
• Harnessing an innovative mindset
• Being a long-term visionary
• Being environmentally & socially conscious, actively supporting LYB’s sustainability objectives
• Harmonizing analytical prowess with strategic planning
• Gathering and applying market insights
• Risk identification and management
• Exercising strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
• Negotiations
• Effective communication
• Cultural competence (demonstrating an understanding an appreciation of diverse cultural norms, values and communication styles, being sensitive to cultural differences and adept at bridging cultural gaps)
• Using data analytics tools and software
• Using AI and other digital tools

Education and Key Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required (or recognized equivalent). Master’s degree preferred (or recognized equivalent).
• 10+ years related experience required with a degree (15+ years in lieu of a degree); 3+ years of chemical or related industry experience and knowledge related to purchasing and materials management is preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in positions mastering knowledge of business processes in a commercial environment preferred.
• Experience in establishing commodity/segment strategies and management preferred.

Competencies