VAS (Value-Added Service) Project Coordinator

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:

The Project Coordinator (m/w/d) for Value Added Services (VAS) is tasked with ensuring the timely and quantitative procurement of components and co-packing services necessary for VAS SKUs that are produced and/or assembled at the Kao production facilities and Third Party Manufacturers (3PM) within the EMEA Beauty Care Region.

This is a full-time, permanent role with hybrid working out of our London or Darmstadt offices.

What you will do:

• Manage the Value-added Service (VAS) process for assigned brands and suppliers, which includes organizing and facilitating project team meetings to ensure the participation of all key functions and members. Additionally, serve as a point of contact between demand planning, marketing, packaging vendors, and co-packers to ensure accurate information collection.
• Value added service project management - identify tasks, set due dates, follow up and ensure timely project execution and implementation. Pro-actively identify risks, counter-act and drive decision making process, in order to launch VAS projects in-time and in-quality.
• Coordination of the timely development and approval of VAS components (displays, gift boxes, stickers, labels, bags, etc.) in collaboration with the Vendors and local marketing teams.
• Responsible for the selection, on-boarding and ongoing management of vendors to meet KAO procurement guidelines and requirements.
• Plan the purchase and supply of VAS components based on the order process (PO/DO placement) for components and rework in-line with the rolling forecast. Actively manage the VAS SKU inventory. Coordinate usage / sale of phase-out SKUs in collaboration with Marketing, Sales and demand planning.
• Responsible to permanently review and improve the VAS standard operational procedures (SOP) in line with other business stakeholders

What you will need:

• Successfully completed vocational education in industrial or business management or comparable education.
• A minimum of 2+ years of experience in an FMCG sector working in procurement for value-added service, materials or services, preferably in gifting, promotion and point of sale materials.
• Experience with SAP ECC (preferably with Forecast to Finish T-codes)
• Experience in project management or coordination
• Experience selecting and managing external Vendors
• Experience in negotiation with external Vendors
• Sense of responsibility and systematic working procedure
• Fluent English language skills (C1) required to communicate with different Marketing depts., Planning and R&D in EMEA region.
• Communication skills/ability to work in a team.
• Decisiveness and assertiveness.
• Conceptual skills and process-oriented thinking.

How we work: Having been selected among the World´s Most Ethical Companies for 19 consecutive years, we are a company with a purpose and strong corporate values. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. At Kao, each employee can actively shape their job and their career. We work collaboratively to achieve our common goals, always aiming to deliver the best for our customers.
What we offer: A friendly and flexible work environment with competitive salaries, benefits package, ongoing development and the opportunity to enhance your skills and deliver tangible results. At Kao your voice will be heard. Your opinion really counts. We believe that change comes from taking opportunities into your own hands, so we value and reward entrepreneurial thinking and innovation.
Hiring Process: Kao embraces the diversity and the individual personalities of its people because we believe it is diversity that makes us strong. This is why we welcome applications from all areas of the global community. 
Want to learn more: If you feel you are as unique as our products and want to find out why 33,000 people across the globe opted for a career with us please visit https://www.kao.com/emea/en/