Category Manager – Technology

Full Description

Reporting to the Procurement Services Director, this newly created Category Manager position has become available due to continued growth across the global business of our client.

As Category Manager for Technology, you will work closely with Customer’s Procurement and Business stakeholders to identify, qualify, and execute savings opportunities. Lead the delivery of a Category Strategy for our Customer, building close relationships with key stakeholders to ensure full understanding of their environment and requirements.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement category strategy which delivers value to the business and its Customers.
• Manage IT sourcing as well as specific innovative and transformational projects across the spend base.
• Develop and implement supplier relationship management that support business performance and cost reduction targets.
• Lead strategic sourcing projects aligned to category strategies to put in place best value contracts.
• Ensure compliance to tools and processes while developing best in class procurement practices to increase compliance and drive value.
• Have a good understanding of commercial contracts with the ability to negotiate most advantageous position for the business, mitigating / minimising risk as far as possible.
• Develop and implement the contract management process to realise maximum benefit from contract understanding, business usage and contract compliance, and provide insight through the analysis of spend, contract metrics, supply markets and savings.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance on leading procurement practices to internal business partners driving best practice.
• Ability to manage and influence stakeholders across the organisation at all levels and to manage customer interfaces with integrity and professionalism.
• Ensure category strategies deliver high levels of transactional efficiency and support P2P targets.
• Lead the business in identification, assessment and management of potential risks associated with differing sourcing and contract management strategies for assigned categories of spend.
• Highly commercial, analytical and innovative in their thinking.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and relationship building abilities.
• Source  products and services, respond to customer requests for quote within given SLAs.
• Negotiate price, payment terms and delivery timescales to achieve targets and increase savings for our customers.
• Evaluate supplier price, quality, and delivery performance.
• Onboard new suppliers and maintain supplier records up to date.
• Build, maintain and manage supplier relationships through effective communications.
• Prepare and implement appropriate forms of contract and commitment with suppliers. Involve legal counsel and senior management when required.
• Understand customer needs and take prompt action on their requests. Stay current and up to date on market changes that may affect the supply and demand of products and materials and advise others of any changes.
• Attend meetings and update other colleagues on issues or concerns to share best practice and define processes.
• Develop ideas and strategies to improve operational efficiency, add value, aid business performance and work towards a strategy of continuous improvement.

Person (Behaviours):

• An innovator and strategic thinker with the ability to influence and change thinking.
• Global category sourcing of IT SW/ HW and/ or IT Services and a strong negotiator with experience of commercial contracts.
• Supplier relationship management experience.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to build multi-national relationships with key stakeholders, functional team and clients.
• Ability to prepare reports, analysis and deliver presentations to Board level.
• Experience of developing, motivating and leading a team with a strong work ethic.
• Excellent IT skills in MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Experience in managing supplier interactions and ideally some experience in reviewing contracts.
• Confident in the entire procurement process from quote to invoice.
• General knowledge of distributors, publishers and products.

The Procurement Hive is a procurement consultancy and procurement recruitment business.

Transform your talent – Our recruitment services span over four decades of combined experience, recruiting supply chain and procurement talent for a wide range of organisations across the globe.

The Procurement Hive celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for both employees and applicants.