Global Business Services Category Director

Tenneco is one of the world’s leading designer, manufacturers and marketers of automotive products for original equipment and aftermarket customers, with approximately 78.000 team members working at more than 300 sites worldwide. Through our four business groups, Motorparts, Ride Performance, Clean Air and Powertrain, Tenneco is driving advancements in global mobility by delivering technology solutions for diversified global markets, including light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway, industrial, motorsport and the aftermarket.

The Global Business Services Category Director is a strategic leadership role that requires a blend of analytical prowess, market insight, and procurement expertise. The successful candidate will be a key driver of value and innovation within the organization, leveraging strategic sourcing and category management practices to deliver a competitive advantage and operational excellence across a broad range of indirect categories.

The position may be based in Northville, MI and reports directly to the Vice President, Indirect Procurement - Americas.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Sourcing:
   • Develop and implement sourcing strategies for various indirect commodities globally, including advertising and marketing, fleet, office supplies and equipment and professional services.
   • Demonstrate expertise in vendor management, contract negotiation, spend analytics, stakeholder management and deployment of end-to-end strategic sourcing strategies.
   • Identify and capture profit improvement opportunities beyond leveraged sourcing, e.g., demand management opportunities, insource versus outsource decisions, efficiencies in the company’s comprehensive supply chain, and/or other strategic and operational process improvements.
   • Conduct market research to identify potential suppliers, assess market trends, and evaluate new products and technologies.
   • Manage the planning and launch of RFx events, leveraging eSourcing tools as appropriate. 

2. Purchasing & Contracting
   • Develop global contracts that are commercially sound, provide optimum protection of company assets and requirements.
   • Effectively manage renewal schedules and workload planning to achieve optimum results.

3. Supplier Management:
   • Identify, evaluate, and select suppliers based on quality, cost, delivery, and service capabilities.
   • Establish and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure optimal performance and continuous improvement.
   • Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing with suppliers to achieve favorable conditions and cost savings.
   • Lead regional and or global business reviews with strategic suppliers to ensure performance against contracted obligations and business unit expectations.
   • Anticipate and minimize performance issues via use of key performance indicators (KPIs).
   • When performance issues emerge, identify root causes and drive for efficient resolution of issues at hand by working across both internal and external stakeholders.

4. Internal Alignment:
   • Oversee the strategic sourcing process for indirect categories, ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery.
   • Collaborate with internal teams to forecast needs, understand business requirements and align on strategy.
   • Support internal teams on project implementation and successful execution of plant level indirect strategies.

5. Cost Management:
   • Monitor and analyze commodity costs, identify cost-saving opportunities, and implement cost-reduction strategies.
   • Prepare and present reports on commodity performance, cost savings, and procurement metrics.

6. Compliance & Risk Management:
   • Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements related to the indirect categories in country.
   • Assess and mitigate risks associated with supplier performance and market volatility.

7. Continuous Improvement:
   • Drive continuous improvement initiatives in procurement processes and supplier performance.
   • Implement best practices and innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement/Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA or relevant certification (e.g., CPM, CPSM) is a plus.
• Possesses 8-10 years of commodity management / sourcing experience with at least 3 years of leadership experience.
• Demonstrated track-record of managing indirect spend categories using multi-step strategic sourcing processes.
• Strong knowledge of indirect goods/services, suppliers, and industry trends.
• Strong negotiation skills including expert understanding of terms, conditions, and contracting techniques for managing risk.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, develop strategies, and manage supplier relationships.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills (strong background in data collection & analysis is a must have) to drive fact-based decision making.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including being comfortable working with all levels of management with executive presence / poise.
• Has a proven track record to be a “hands on” leader with an eagerness to contribute, deliver results and drive people development.
• Proven history of managing change through influence; capable of driving major commercial decisions across a diverse set of internal stakeholders.
• Is highly collaborative by nature; transparent and open-minded.
• Can manage multiple priorities and work in a fast-paced environment, navigating ambiguity and remaining agile.
• Has experience creating and implementing company-wide/centralized processes.
• Proficiency in procurement software and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Travel required – approximately 25%.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.