Management Trainee, Procurement

Company Description

With over 100 years of experience, Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection in the building sector and automotive industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 103 countries around the world and, in over 400 factories, produces innovative technologies for customers worldwide. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in enabling the transformation of the construction and vehicle industries toward greater environmental compatibility. With more than 33,000 employees, the company generated sales of CHF 11.2 billion in 2023.

We are looking for a management trainee to help us develop and implement our growth strategies. This position is best suited for candidates who want to gain valuable experience towards a managerial role with advancement potential.

To be successful as a Management Trainee, you should have superb attention to detail and be able to promptly identify problems. Outstanding candidates will have great leadership, problem solving, and interpersonal skills.

Job Description

The Regional Management Trainee Program

The 18-month Regional Management Trainee Program has been developed at Sika as a platform to fast-track highly talented and motivated individuals into challenging managerial roles. The strategic aim of this program is to establish a strong and diverse talent pipeline for future key senior management positions.

What to expect

As a management trainee in regional procurement, you can expect:

1. An intense broad-based training

Training will include (but not be limited to):

• Sika Group – Strategy Culture, Values and Principals
• Procurement Management and Strategy
• Leadership
• Category Management
• Training on the fundamentals of other functions
• Procurement Tool Systems and Process
• Compliance and Policy
• Performance Reporting
• Raw Material – Technology and Applications
• Finished Goods – Technology and Application.

The training will be delivered one-on-one by Sika experts both within the APAC and at our Global Headquarters in Switzerland.

In parallel with training, trainees will immediately be assigned day-to-day tasks to support Regional/Global Procurement activities in order to begin to develop a network of contacts and so a contribution can be made from day 1.

2. Individual Project Work

Following the training phase, trainees will be assigned one or more challenging projects that will address important contemporary business issues and/or management efficiency improvement requirements. It is during this stage that the trainee will begin to specialize in areas suitable for a first possible managerial role.

Areas where we expect to develop new management positions include.

• Sustainability and Responsible Procurement
• Tools, Systems, and Digitalization
• Engineering Procurement
• Indirect Good and Services

However, the precise nature of the first full time role will depend on the requirements of the business at the time training period comes to an end.

3. Continuous Exposure to Senior Management

A key to the fast-track development of management trainees in Sika is exposure to Senior Management. In addition to being mentored and coached by a Regional Senior Manager you will join various senior management coordination meetings where you will begin to learn first-hand how Sika Senior Manager address a variety of business issues, management performance, solve problems and resolve conflict.

4. An Overseas Assignment

During the training period the trainee will be expected to complete an oversees assignment of at least 6 months duration working in a procurement department at one of our Sika entities world-wide. 

What will come after training?

Following training the successful candidate will be appointed into a full-time management level position within the APAC Region.

Qualifications

• Graduate with a technical or engineering background.
• 2-4 years of working experience (as of 15 August 2024 - commencement date of Management Trainee Program 2024).
• Ambitious self-starter with a high degree of motivation and drive.
• Excellent communication skills combined with a confident and outgoing personality.
• Advance level English language skills.
• Highly numerate, analytical with strong curiosity to peruse answers and solve problems.
• Multicultural exposure with the flexibility and desire for international travel.
• Comprehensive and advanced knowledge of MS Office and other relevant digital tools