3PL & Logistics Manager

Sumitomo Chemical is one of the world’s leading chemical manufacturers, conducting business in five sectors – essential chemicals & plastics, energy & functional materials, IT-related chemicals, health & crop sciences, and pharmaceuticals.

Through the global network of around 35.000 employees, the company provides worldwide support to a wide variety of industries. Sumitomo Chemical Europe has its headquarters in Machelen (Belgium), and markets a variety of chemicals throughout Europe.

To further strengthen their international Supply Chain & Logistics department in Europe, we are currently recruiting a 3PL & Logistics Manager.

As part of the Supply Chain & Logistics Department, you will be responsible for managing the key Logistics Service Providers and ensuring a strong logistics collaboration between Asia and Europe, in line with the Supply Chain & Logistics Strategy. In addition, you will continuously strive for inventory- and logistics related cost optimizations, under constant consideration of customer service, quality, safety, sustainability, and legal compliances. 

• You will manage, maintain and further develop established long-term collaborations with existing Logistic Service Providers, covering both warehousing and transportation activities.
• You will manage the LSP’s and their performance by implementing strategic KPI’s regarding cost, delivery, lead performance, flexibility, quality improvement, risk management and sustainability whilst striving for continuous improvement.
• You will develop and update the Logistics Manual for the LSP in alignment with the business needs.
• You will participate and/or take the lead in RFQ’s and secure the implementation of new 3PL providers.
• You ensure proper inventory management by LSP’s by continuously keeping them informed on the inbound planning, storage, capacity needs and outbound execution.
• You will provide day-to-day logistic support across different departments, to ensure seamless flows on inbound, handling, storage and outbound.
• You will act as internal SPOC to the Sales & Marketing department, ensuring continuity between the supply chain flows and the sales strategy.
• You will optimize the logistics flows from Singapore, Japan and Saudi Arabia towards EMEA.
• You assure internal control procedures are in place for all Business Units, in order to identify, quantify and minimize the company’s risks and secure alternative solutions when needed.
• You will report directly to the Head of Supply Chain & Logistics.

• You obtained a Master’s degree and gained a solid working experience of min. 8 years within an international supply chain management role. A proven experience in the Chemical Industry is considered a plus, but not a must.
• You have a strong experience in managing Logistics Service Providers.
• You are experienced in optimizing inbound capacity planning. Ideally, you have experience with optimizing overflow warehousing.
• You have experience with, or a strong interest in, procurement of outsourced logistics, distribution & warehousing activities.
• Experience Regulatory Affairs, Compliance & Sustainability is considered a nice to have.
• Experience in working with EDI is considered a big asset. 
• You are a team player and excellent relationship builder, able to secure buy-in from both internal and external stakeholders.
• You have analytical skills to drive data based decision taking.
• You have strong social skills and are open to other cultural mindsets, experience with the Japanese culture is a plus.
• You have strong communication skills, both orally and written, and this to different audiences in the business environment.
• You are empathic, mature and correct. You are stress-resistant and are able to maintain a helicopter view at all times.
• You are fluent in English and Dutch, other languages are considered an asset.
• You will work in SCE’s HQ in Machelen, combined with a flexible homeworking policy.