EMEA Packaging Category Lead – Flexible Procurement Leader in Tadworth

Join the team behind iconic brands like Huggies®, Kleenex®, Andrex®, Scott®, Kotex®, Poise®, and Kimberly-Clark Professional®. At Kimberly-Clark, it’s all here for you—innovation, growth, and the chance to make a real impact. You were made to create Better Care for a Better World: as a person, you’re a problem-solver – a connector – someone who thrives on creating order from complexity and driving continuous improvement. You see the big picture while mastering the details, ensuring that every product, process, and partnership flows with precision and purpose. You live your life in alignment with the highest values of integrity, efficiency, and collaboration, always working to turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s success stories. In this role, you’ll help us deliver better care for billions of people around the world. It starts with YOU.

This role will be part of Kimberly Clark's International Family Care and Professional (IFP) business—an organization rooted in purpose and innovation that has built a legacy with global impact. As Kimberly-Clark forms a strategic partnership with Suzano to create a world-class international tissue and professional products company, this role is proposed to transfer to the new venture once the transaction closes, anticipated in mid‑2026, subject to consultation and other applicable legal requirements. This is a rare opportunity to help shape a new global leader backed by two industry powerhouses. You’ll be part of a high‑potential business that combines Kimberly-Clark’s iconic brands and commercial excellence with Suzano’s industrial and sustainability leadership.

About You

In one of our Supply Chain roles, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the center. In this role, you will be an experienced, self-driven and agile individual, who will lead selected spend areas within the Packaging Category in EMEA. You will make a difference by developing regional category strategies, leading local execution and partnering with the technical teams to influence multi‑functional internal stakeholders – from peers to senior leaders – to deliver winning solutions to be the best at shelf, assure cost efficiency, service excellence, high standard quality, innovation, sustainability & regulatory compliance.

This role will be responsible for but not limited to:

• Manage Packaging sourcing activities for the EMEA region (including but not limited to flexibles and stretch wrap)
• Responsible for driving all procurement targets for the EMEA Packaging categories in scope.
• Develop & manage supplier relationships
• Develop category strategies and execution plans based on input from benchmarking activities, analysis of supplier landscape and market dynamics, assess supplier landscape and category trends
• Collaborate with Finance to provide financial forecasts for Packaging
• Ensure quality & risk management, including Supplier Code of Conduct and Social Responsibility, compliance per defined internal controls and policies in category area
• Facilitate effective communications between suppliers and internal business partners to ensure near and longer‑term Business needs (quality, service, innovation and cost to use) are met ongoing
• Develop and maintain expertise on vendor selection and translating this to competitive vendor strategies and objectives which lead to a more favourable business position than competition or other competitive advantage for the company.
• Ensure compliance with established corporate financial controls within the department by providing operating management direction and support to the implementation and maintenance of financial policies, instructions, and internal control procedures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, or a related field
• 5+ years of procurement and category management experience, ideally within a CPG company
• Strong category strategy, negotiation, and delivery skills, with a track record of achieving results
• Strong problem‑solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
• Ability to work effectively across global regions, cultures, and matrix organisations while balancing diverse business needs
• Working knowledge of COUPA, MS Office, and other procurement tools

Travel Requirement: This role requires the ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

Led by Purpose. Driven by You.

Total Benefits

• Market‑leading pension contribution.
• Bonus scheme.
• Flexible Savings and spending accounts to maximise health care options and stretch pounds when caring for yourself or dependents.
• Private Medical Insurance, great support for good health with medical, dental, and vision coverage options.
• Diverse income protection insurance options to protect yourself and your family in case of illness, injury, or other unexpected events.
• Additional programs and support to continue your education, adopt a child, relocate, or even find temporary childcare.

Flex That Works at Kimberly‑Clark

We believe great work happens when people come together with purpose. That’s why we offer a flexible work model that blends remote work with intentional in‑person collaboration — helping you connect, grow, and innovate while maintaining the balance you value.

This role is available for local candidates already authorised to work in the role’s country only. Kimberly-Clark will not provide relocation support for this role.

We are a committed equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For Kimberly‑Clark to grow and prosper, we must be an inclusive organization that applies the diverse experiences and passions of our team members to brands that make life better for people all around the world, which is why we seek to build a workforce that encompasses the experiences of our consumers. When you bring your original thinking to Kimberly‑Clark, you fuel the continued success of our enterprise.

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position. Employment is subject to verification of local policies.