Senior Category Manager Global Packaging at Zoetis in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Job Description:

Zoetis Inc. is a global leader in the animal health industry, focused on the discovery, development, manufacture and commercialization of medicines, vaccines, diagnostic products and services, biodevices, genetic tests and precision animal health technology. We have a diversified business, commercializing products across eight core species: dogs, cats and horses (collectively, companion animals) and cattle, swine, poultry, fish and sheep (collectively, livestock); and within seven major product categories: vaccines, parasiticides, anti-infectives, dermatology, other pharmaceutical products, medicated feed additives and animal health diagnostics. For 70 years, we have been innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness, and continue to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide - from livestock farmers to veterinarians and pet owners.


A Fortune 500 company with a market cap of over $86B, Zoetis generated revenue of $8.5 billion in 2023 and employs over 14,000 colleagues worldwide, with about half in our Global Manufacturing and Supply organization. We view the strength of our leadership team and our talented colleagues around the world as a critical component of our past and future success. We are committed to continuing to be a company our colleagues can be proud of and to attracting, retaining and developing the best talent in the industry through our focus on workplace culture and engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), talent recruitment, development and retention, benefits and compensation, and employee health and safety.


We have established Core Beliefs that are the foundation of the commitments we make to each other, our customers and our stakeholders every day:


• Our Colleagues Make the Difference


• Always Do the Right Thing


• Customer Obsessed


• Run It Like You Own It


• We are One Zoetis


Zoetis continues on a pattern of consistent growth since becoming a public company in 2013. Importantly, our performance demonstrated that animal health remains an essential industry and continues to have resilient growth drivers in the face of global challenges. Our performance was made possible by dedicated Zoetis colleagues, guided by a strong culture founded on our Core Beliefs. Our strong financial performance has enabled us to continue with meaningful investments in our business, while returning capital to our shareholders. These investments support our five strategic priorities for growth: (1) drive innovative growth, (2) enhance customer experience, (3) lead in digital and data analytics, (4) cultivate a high-performing culture, and (5) champion a healthier, more sustainable future. And they are grounded in our purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals.



Position Summary:



As a Senior Category Manager for Global Packaging, you will collaborate with a team of Category managers and Site Procurement leads in developing the global category strategy across our global manufacturing network, within primary and secondary packaging. As part of this strategy work you will identify and implement strategic sourcing initiatives to optimize packaging-related expenditures, drive innovation, and ensure alignment with the organization's goals and objectives across multiple regions and business units. You will lead cross-functional teams, engage with key stakeholders, and leverage market insights to drive value and excellence in packaging procurement on a global scale.



Position Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute comprehensive sourcing strategies for packaging materials and components, considering factors such as cost, quality, supplier capabilities, and sustainability.


• Identify opportunities for consolidation, standardization, and optimization of packaging categories to achieve cost savings, improve efficiency, and enhance supply chain resilience.


• Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with packaging suppliers globally, fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.


• Conduct supplier evaluations, performance reviews, and negotiations to ensure alignment with quality standards, delivery requirements, and cost targets.


• Monitor market trends, industry developments, and regulatory changes affecting the packaging industry, and leverage insights to inform sourcing decisions and drive innovation.


• Anticipate supply chain disruptions, price fluctuations, and geopolitical risks, and develop mitigation strategies to minimize impact on packaging procurement operations.


• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders including product development, marketing, operations, and sustainability teams to align packaging strategies with product requirements, branding objectives, and environmental sustainability goals.


• Lead cross-functional teams to drive innovation, value engineering, and new product introductions in collaboration with packaging suppliers and external partners.


• Negotiate and manage supplier contracts, terms, and agreements for packaging materials and services, ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.


• Monitor contract performance, enforce service level agreements (SLAs), and resolve disputes or issues in a timely and efficient manner.


• Champion sustainability initiatives within the packaging category, driving efforts to reduce environmental impact, minimize waste, and promote recyclability and reuse.


• Collaborate with suppliers, industry associations, and stakeholders to identify and implement sustainable packaging solutions and practices.


• Develop annual budgets, forecasts, and cost reduction targets for the packaging category, and monitor spending against established targets to ensure financial objectives are met.


• Implement cost-saving initiatives, value engineering programs, and competitive bidding processes to optimize total cost of ownership and improve profitability.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field.


• Advanced degree or relevant certifications (e.g., CSCP, CPSM, CIPS) is beneficial.

Skills and Experience:



The ideal candidate for the role will play a pivotal role in driving strategic sourcing initiatives, fostering supplier partnerships, and promoting innovation and sustainability within the packaging category on a global scale. This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of packaging procurement, drive value creation, and contribute to the organization's overall success and competitiveness in the marketplace.


To be considered for the role the following experience is important:

• Proven experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management roles, with a focus on packaging materials and components within a global context.


• Deep understanding of the packaging industry, including materials, technologies, trends, and regulatory requirements, with a focus on sustainability and circular economy principles.

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:

• Strong analytical and negotiation skills, with the ability to analyze complex data, evaluate supplier proposals, and make data-driven decisions.


• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external partners at all levels of the organization.


• Excellent financial understanding, with the ability to turn financial figures and terms into valuable business cases, utilizing terminology such as PPV, NPV, IRR, Payback period, WACC, depreciations and amortizations, to gain commitment and endorsement from stakeholders.


• Excellent project management abilities, with a track record of leading cross-functional teams and delivering results in a fast-paced, global environment.

Technical Requirements:

• Proficiency in procurement and sourcing tools, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office Suite incl. ThinkCell.


• Experience with utilizing eAuction tools for maximizing competition within your portfolio will be an advantage


• Previous experience using MS Power BI and SAP will be beneficial.

Languages & Other:

• English - written and spoken is a must.


• Any other languages like German, French or Spanish will be an asset.

Physical requirements:

• Based at the VMRD Headquarters in Kalamazoo, MI


• Travel as required to fulfill responsibilities of the role (typically up to 20%)

Full time


Regular


Colleague


Any unsolicited resumes sent to Zoetis from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Zoetis mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Zoetis employees, or to Zoetis resume database will be considered Zoetis property. Zoetis will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.


Zoetis will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.


Zoetis is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status or any other protected classification. Disabled individuals are given an equal opportunity to use our online application system. We offer reasonable accommodations as an alternative if requested by an individual with a disability. Please contact Zoetis Colleague Services at zoetiscolleagueservices@zoetis.com to request an accommodation. Zoetis also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act. All applicants must possess or obtain authorization to work in the US for Zoetis. Zoetis retains sole and exclusive discretion to pursue sponsorship for the acquisition or maintenance of nonimmigrant status and employment eligibility, considering factors such as availability of qualified US workers. Individuals requiring sponsorship must disclose this fact. Please note that Zoetis seeks information related to job applications from candidates for jobs in the U.S. solely via the following: (1) our company website at www.Zoetis.com/careers site, or (2) via email to/from addresses using only the Zoetis domain of "@zoetis.com". In addition, Zoetis does not use Google Hangout for any recruitment related activities. Any solicitation or request for information related to job applications with Zoetis via any other means and/or utilizing email addresses with any other domain should be disregarded. In addition, Zoetis will never ask candidates to make any type of personal financial investment related to gaining employment with Zoetis. Apply Now