What you can bring into the team:
Job Purpose:
The Senior Category Manager – Indirect Procurement is a strategic role within CHANEL China, accountable for end-to-end category strategy, value creation, and risk management across Marketing, Events, Communication and POS spend.
Beyond delivering cost efficiency, this role is designed to create sustainable business value, design and execute sustainable procurement initiative in CN aligned with global strategy, protect brand equity, enable commercial excellence, and strengthen CHANEL’s SourcetoPay maturity in China.
Key Responsibilities:
Category Strategy & Value Creation
- Own and lead end to end category strategies for Marketing, Events, Communication and POS.
- Conduct deep spend analytics, market intelligence, and supplier landscape assessments to identify value levers beyond cost (innovation, time to market, quality, risk, ESG).
- Design and execute multiyear category roadmaps aligned with CHANEL China business priorities and Global/Regional IP strategy.
- Lead complex RFX processes, negotiations, and contract structuring, ensuring optimal balance of cost, quality, service, compliance, and Brand Protection.
Business Partnership & Stakeholder Leadership
- Act as a trusted strategic partner to Division, Communication, Retail, VM and Events teams.
- Proactively understand business ambitions and translate them into fit for purpose sourcing and contracting strategies.
- Influence senior stakeholders with confidence, data, and insight.
- Drive alignment between local BUs, North Asia IP, and Global IP on category strategies and governance.
Supplier Strategy, Governance & Risk Management
- Build and manage a high performing supplier ecosystem aligned with CHANEL’s standards.
- Lead supplier segmentation, performance management, and continuous improvement using defined KPIs.
- Ensure robust supplier onboarding, due diligence, risk assessment and compliance (CSR, ESG, data privacy, IT security, insurance, etc.).
- Identify innovation and value cocreation opportunities with strategic suppliers.
SourcetoPay Excellence & Transformation
- Act as a category and S2C role model in China, ensuring full compliance with S2P policies, governance, and Coupa processes.
- Champion process simplification, user experience improvement, and change management across Bus.
- Provide structured feedback and insights into APAC / Global IP on local market needs and system evolution.
Sustainable & Responsible Procurement
- Integrate sustainability, ESG, and responsible sourcing criteria into category strategies and supplier decisions.
- Support RSP audits, follow up corrective action plans, and continuously reduce supplier related risks.
- Promote sustainable alternatives and long-term value thinking in decision making.
Leadership & Succession Readiness
- Demonstrate strategic mindset: strategic thinking, prioritization, resilience, and accountability.
- Coach and develop team members and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Actively contribute to the North Asia IP leadership agenda, capability building, and future organization design.
Required Experience & Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree or above in Procurement, Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain, or related disciplines.
- CIPS preferred.
Professional Experience
- 10+ years of experience in indirect procurement / category management, with strong exposure to:
- Marketing, Events, Communication and/or POS
- FMCG, Luxury Retail or consumer driven environments
- Proven track record in strategic souring, stakeholder management, and team building.
- Experience working in international, matrix organizations; APAC or global exposure is a strong advantage.
- Demonstrated involvement in transformation programs (S2P, digital procurement, governance uplift).
Key Competencies & Capabilities:
- Deep understanding of SourcetoPay (S2P) and category management best practices.
- Strong commercial acumen, analytical skills, and strategic thinking.
- Excellent stakeholder influence and communication skills (Chinese & English).
- Ability to operate effectively in ambiguity and fast changing environments.
- Leadership presence.
- High level of integrity, resilience, and cultural sensitivity.
