Category Manager, Packaging (Procurement)

The Category Manager, Packaging is dedicated to supporting the Company's Global Packaging Strategy, activating retail support, and ensuring regional alignment. The role is collaborative and requires an individual who can take initiative, think openly, and operate creatively, while maintaining Tiffany's storied Packaging brand legacy. The role also requires an agile thinker and strong communicator who can navigate and work with various business functions across the company as needed to implement strategy.
The Category Manager will partner with our third party suppliers to drive operational efficiencies globally. The role will collaborate between Marketing and other business functions to meet strategy in a way that is consistent with global direction. They will be responsible for supporting new packaging briefs and related packaging development.
Key Accountabilities:
Business Support & Analysis

• Run the monthly forecast communication of unplanned usage and growth trends while reviewing and supervising suppliers orders.
• Evaluate opportunities for increased efficiency via external partners and improved internal processes
• Review and monitor standard monthly packaging supplier vendor reporting and KPIs.
• Identify and work effectively with external partners, as relevant, to further packaging strategy.
• Leads SOP’s and ensure information provided to packaging suppliers is detailed, accurate, and complete and holds suppliers accountable to provide the same.
• Be central point of contact that owns packaging supplier vendor relationships and acts as a liaison between internal business partners and suppliers.
• Develop a deep knowledge of the packaging category, competitors, trends, regional variations, emerging innovations, and consumer insights.
• Use packaging category expertise and uniquely cross-functional perspective to develop innovative and entrepreneurial recommendations for packaging business growth and development.

Communication

• With Quality Auditor and Quality Assurance on any vendor related standard non-conformances, quality issues, rejects, engineering changes, redesigns, and sample testing.
• With Marketing, Merchandising, Distribution and others on new packaging requirements
• With suppliers regarding new product development.
• With Packaging Analyst to support area as needed.
• With Director on vendor related issues and updates.
• With Trademark Enforcement group to assist in identifying counterfeit packaging shipments.
• With Business Continuity team on business continuity plan related to the packaging vendor base.
• Work with all cross-functional packaging stakeholders at Tiffany and act as a central point of contact for all packaging related corporate requests, inquiries, and issues related to suppliers.

Project Management & Support

• Plan annual tooling CER budget.
• Engage packaging partners with new project initiatives and creating technical specification packs where needed.
• Run all packaging related projects through the phases of development.
• Establish project milestones by management and maintenance of a new product development tracker.
• Lead new packaging initiatives by working with GP Sourcing Analyst on RFQs/RFPs, handle development process with internal collaborators and GP, acquire demand and communicate to suppliers.

Social Accountability Program/CSR

• Research and seek out additional CSR opportunities to incorporate into packaging product assortment and collaborate with Assistant Manager on CSR initiatives.
• Implement annual deforestation questionnaire.
• Schedule audits and follow-up on pertinent CAPs.
• Liaise with Social Responsibility team on behalf of packaging vendors.

Staff Development

• Prepare staff evaluations, mentor staff through one-on-one meetings, follow company guidelines and PMP timeline
• Support Director with execution of department and cross functional initiatives *Manage staff, provide direction to prioritize their projects, ensure project and presentation accuracy, develop staff for future growth
• Build personal and professional development through intensive training opportunities i.e. regular feedback sessions with staff and management
• Ensure staff integration of new systems and processes.

The hiring range for this position ranges from $117,810 - $166,320. The rate of pay offered will be dependent upon candidates’ relevant skills and experience. Management is also eligible for bonus.
Required Qualifications:

• Extensive knowledge of environmentally responsible materials used in good packaging, ideally in the luxury space
• Bachelor's degree
• Familiarity with standard concepts, practices and procedures within luxury goods packaging
• 7+ years related experience in packaging
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Strong project management and organizational skills required to implement multiple projects in a timely manner to meet required deadlines
• Ability to set own priorities and to work independently and optimally in a team environment
• Strong statistical and analytical skills
• Ability to interact with varying levels of management in cross-functional teams
• Proficient computer skills in MS Office; Microsoft Project experience or equivalent is a plus
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas, concepts and procedures to all levels within the organization
• Strong problem solving skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Packaging development experience
• Project Management certification