Who we are:

Founded in Japan in 1887, Kao is passionate about making a difference in people's lives with our high quality products and services to create a Kirei Life for all – a beautiful life that respects the needs of our consumers and customers as well as the planet.
We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. As a company driven by purpose and strong corporate values we pride ourselves to be listed among the World´s Most Ethical Companies since 16 consecutive years.
Our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, guides us in everything we do – acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation and treating each other with trust and respect.

The role:

This position can be based in either the UK or Germany and requires fluency in both languages.

Will be responsible for coordinating outsourcing activities related to New Product Development (NPD) Vendor management and routine procurement operations across the Salon, Consumer Care and Molton Brown sectors within the KAO Beauty business in the EMEA region.

What you will do:

• Negotiate and manage the costs associated with outsourced finished products in the EMEA region, including compounding, filling, administration, and logistics, as well as minimum order quantities and payment terms with Third Party Manufacturers (referred to as 3PM).
• Manage a portfolio of strategic vendors, perform regular business evaluations, and ensure that vendors achieve business performance objectives related to costs, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, and on-time in full (OTIF) delivery.
• Collaborate with internal business partners to provide briefings to 3PMS for new product...