Strategy Analyst - Advanced Polymer Solutions (APS)

Basic Function

This position reports to the Advanced Polymer Solutions (APS) Strategy Manager for Europe/APAC-AfMEI and serves as the key strategic partner for segment leaders in designing and ongoing management of their business strategies. The Strategy Analyst accomplishes this through annual strategic planning processes, routine analysis of segment customer / product and P&L performance, as well as external market influences. From these activities he/she makes recommendations to adjust business strategy and execution to drive Value Enhancement Program (VEP) accountability for assigned segment(s). As part of the APS Performance management structure he/she maintains a subset of monthly and quarterly report outs to regional and global senior management. In terms of Transformation the Strategy analyst leads special projects with regional and global scope.

As a strategy leader and key partner to the business this role demands the ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of functional teams and across formats to ensure alignment. A strong understanding of financial, commercial, and market analytics is necessary for trusted data interpretation and use of tools/ platforms to ensure buy-in for the strategy and agility throughout execution to achieve value.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Support business to develop strategic plans and change initiatives are of high quality; strong logic, storytelling, underpinned with data. Monitor progress using available tools: Wave, Sales Funnel, Financials, etc. Ensure strategic plans are aligned across functional groups e.g. sales, finance, innovation, manufacturing, procurement, asset management.
2. Facilitate the annual Strategy Refresh / Long-Range Planning process for assigned segment(s), prepare / facilitate routine business review meetings.
3. Performance management: Prepare and Analyze internal performance data and make recommendations for improvement via routine analysis work: e.g. customer and product margin, manufacturing variances, manufacturing utilization, pricing performance, working capital.
4. Review and monitor external data and make recommendations for improvement/adjustments of strategy: External market studies: market sizing, customer, technology and application trends. Align with NBD and Sales on key findings; Commodity prices: outlook, supply base; Competitor analysis: competitor performance, new product launches; Regulatory environment.
5. Participate in / lead special regional and/or global projects, including Segment deep dives, M&A, restructuring, large CAPEX (discounted cashflow evaluation), and region/ corporate-wide APS change projects: e.g. major change management projects, process and tools optimization.

Person Specification

The position may require travel within APAC/AfMEI region.

Education:

• A Bachelor’s degree with a major in Engineering and/or Finance. 
• Advanced degree and / or CPA / MBA preferred.

Work Experience:

• Typically 5-8 years of work experience in an international corporate setting, with strong Strategy experience. Emphasis on areas such as Project Management, Transformation strategy design, VEP experience and business operational background is required. Strategy consulting experience preferred. 
• Experience in manufacturing industry such as plastics, chemical, and/or refining is required. 
• Demonstrated track record of working effectively within a well-respected, business to business customer oriented industrial organization.

Critical Competencies/Behaviors:

Functional/Technical Skills 
Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of accomplishment.

• Customer Focus - Possesses high level of customer attention and focus with appropriate discipline toward being the Financial Conscience for multiple Operational leaders. Needs to view themselves as an owner of the business and understand the challenges of the segment(s), region, processes and organizational structures involved.  Solutions must be in the best interest of the Company as a whole, beyond the areas directly supported.
• Priority Setting - Spends his/her time and the time of others on what’s important; quickly zooms in on the critical few and puts the trivial many aside; can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal; eliminates roadblocks; creates focus.
• Integrity and Trust - Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn’t misrepresent him/herself for personal gain.
• Driving for Results - Ensure timely deliverables and accurate execution progress reporting. Continuously looking for best practices and opportunities to work more efficient. 
• Written Communications - Is able to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can get messages across that have the desired effective results.
• Presentation Skills - Is effective in a variety of formal presentation settings: one-on-one, small and large groups, with peers,  and leaders; is effective both inside and outside the organization, on both data and controversial topics; commands attention and can manage group process during the presentation.
• Professional - Is effective in building or maintaining successful relationships in teams by safeguarding a well-respected and good atmosphere, developing self and others; demonstrates courage to challenge others in the decision making process. 

Skills & Languages

Skills:

• Owns a high safety culture standard and effectively fosters positive working relationships and great team spirit.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written are essential. Possesses high level of communication skills require so as to build relationships at levels at, below and above incumbent level.
• Ability to work autonomously while reporting adequately to manager. 
• Experienced in managing and or supporting complex project with tight timelines.
• Ability to multi-task, consistently meets deadlines, and performs self-review of work product for accuracy and quality in a dynamic environment. 
• Ability to work comfortably and navigate the requirements of a matrix organization, across functions and levels.
• Highly self-sufficient and knowledgeable and able to employ quality analytics to facilitate:  (1) making decisions (2) providing quality information to allow management to make sound decisions.
• Ability to work with middle and top management including giving presentations to senior leaders.
• Understands the financials behind the Manufacturing processes in both Balance Sheet and P&L.
• Understands the volume movements and related financials behind the Supply Chain processes.
• Ability to work extended hours during various times of the month/year. 
• Strong Experience with OneStream, SAP, Microsoft Excel and other used financial accounting systems.

Languages:
English fluency is required.

Competencies