Job Description

Supply Chain Excellence & Productivity Lead

Location: Epping Plant, Cape Town, SA or Olayan, Bahrain or Dammam, Saudi Arabia

As a person, you’re a learner – a natural leader – someone who is always taking initiative to make things better and bring others along with you. You live your life in alignment with the highest values of integrity and quality, always ensuring your responsibilities become a long-term success story. In this role, you’ll help us deliver better care for billions of people around the world. It starts with YOU.

This is a critical role within the MEA Supply Chain which encompasses the entire supply chain footprint in MEA – Plants and distribution centers. The individual will be the thought leader across supply chains to ensure we drive continuous improvements driving gross productivity across mills, supply chains, procurement and DTV. The individual is expected to bring the outside in thinking, and act as a self-driven change agent.

In this role, you will:

• Develop a comprehensive mill strategy and establish three-year productivity goals for the MEA region to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of our supply chain

• Foster a culture of innovation by continuously exploring and implementing cutting-edge technologies, practices, and methodologies to drive supply chain excellence and deliver breakthrough results

• Harness the power of digital technologies to improve supply chain operations, such as implementing advanced analytics, automation, and predictive modeling to enhance decision-making – whilst upskilling the workforce

• Spearhead key initiatives to improve Gross Margin across various product categories, focusing on areas such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), Conversion cost, Energy, Waste, and Manpower

• Influence and drive regional cost benchmarking strategy by conducting in-depth analyses of cost elements in collaboration with Plant operations, Transportation, Warehousing, and Customer teams.

• Manage a team of dotted line CI leaders in mill and SC to implement various productivity programs at mills, warehouses, and other operational levels, guiding them through ambiguity and empowering them to create innovative solutions for complex challenges.

• Develop problem-solving capability by leveraging industry tools, digital solutions, and methodologies, and collaborate with Engineering teams to enhance technical capabilities.

• Champion regional initiatives / programs to build World Class Manufacturing Culture in the organization (LEAN, Reliability, OPEX, LSS, Sustainability, Digital Manufacturing, Maturity Assessment, P2030).

• Drive Operational benchmarks and implement best practices for continuous improvement through application of technical knowledge, skills and capability.

• Orchestrate gross productivity ideation and activation across mill, SC, DTV and Procurement – focusing both on in-year results as well as outer year pipeline – targeting 5% of gross productivity every year.

• Full ownership of Wave as the single source of truth for gross productivity savings across the sector, ensuring data accuracy, hygiene and timeliness of data completion collaborating with functions.

• Chair monthly productivity forums to update all key stakeholders on gross productivity.

• Work closely mill finance, SC finance and business finance functions to develop a high degree of business financial acumen, providing solid inputs to ABP and Quarterly forecasts for both Gross and Net productivity.

• Build a partnership with the IFP TO Team to support the implementation of regional Lean initiatives (adopt and adapt mindset)

• Create networking channels within EM and global connections to identify opportunities, share knowledge, and utilize our global presence.

• Dimensions:

• Businesses: Baby Care, Feminine Care, Family care and KCP

• Organization: Manage gross productivity leads in plants and distribution network

• Scope: EM plants in GCC and South Africa, External contract mfg, MEA SC network

• Supply Chain Excellence & Productivity leader will be core member of the MEA SC leadership team

• Stakeholders to regularly interact with and influence SC VP, MEA CFO, Regional MD, Mill Managers and CS& L leaders – as well as connections to the global CI/Digital and VS teams.

• Key Metrics: Gross productivity, Cost to serve, Energy Efficiency, OEE optimization

• Core role competencies:

• Strategic thinker with a bias for action built on hypothesis-based approach

• Problem solving (DMAIC) and decision-making skills integrating thinking as business & supply chain owner

• Proven expertise in driving Gross Margin improvement

• Relevant leaderships skills related to taking accountability; Strong influencing skills are a prerequisite for this central role.

• Cultural and operational change management in organizations which are resistant to change

• Digital expertise and knowledge of emerging technologies in the supply chain space, such as advanced analytics, automation, and predictive modelling.

• Collaboration and relationship-building skills to influence a matrix organization

• Ability to view a complete supply chain with their interdependencies of procurement, manufacturing, distribution, DTV, planning along with capital management

About Us

Huggies®. Kleenex®. Baby Soft®. Kotex®. Kimberly-Clark Professional®. You already know our legendary brands—and so does the rest of the world. In fact, millions of people use Kimberly-Clark products every day. We know these amazing Kimberly-Clark products wouldn’t exist without talented professionals, like you.

At Kimberly-Clark, you’ll be part of the best team committed to driving innovation, growth and impact. We’re founded on more than 150 years of market leadership, and we’re always looking for new and better ways to perform – so there’s your open door of opportunity. It’s all here for you at Kimberly-Clark.

Led by Purpose. Driven by You

About You

You perform at the highest level possible, and you appreciate a performance culture fueled by authentic caring. You want to be part of a company actively dedicated to sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, and career development.
You love what you do, especially when the work you do makes a difference. At Kimberly-Clark, we’re constantly exploring new ideas on how, when, and where we can best achieve results.

In this manufacturing role, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the center.

To succeed in this role, you will need the following:

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Engineering

• At least 10yrs of experience in CPG Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics

• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to influence leadership

• Exceptional interpersonal, analytical and communication skills

• Business and financial acumen with the ability to work with business stakeholders

• Strong expertise in lean, six sigma in continuous improvement

• Evidence of background of specialized knowledge/experience in the particular discipline

• Proven records of working with stakeholders in a matrix organization and cross function

• Experience across personal care categories will be an added advantage

To Be Considered

Click the Apply button and complete the online application process. A member of our recruiting team will review your application and follow up if you seem like a great fit for this role.

In the meantime, please check out the careers website.

Total Benefits

Here are just a few of the benefits you’d enjoy working in this role for Kimberly-Clark. For a complete overview, see www.mykcbenefits.com.

Great support for good health with medical, dental, and vision coverage options with no waiting periods or pre-existing condition restrictions. Access to an on-site fitness center, occupational health nurse, and allowances for high-quality safety equipment.

Flexible Savings and spending accounts to maximize health care options and stretch dollars when caring for yourself or dependents.

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.

To Be Considered
Click the Apply button and complete the online application process. A member of our recruiting team will review your application and follow up if you seem like a great fit for this role.

In the meantime, please check out the careers website.

And finally, the fine print….

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

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 pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, and DMV check.

#LI-Onsite

Primary Location

Additional Locations

Worker Type

Worker Sub-Type

Time Type