Anderson Knight is currently recruiting for a Procurement Category Manager to join one of our clients. The Procurement Category Manager will lead the development and execution of category strategies for assigned categories across a global organisation. This role will focus on optimising procurement activities, ensuring cost-effective purchasing solutions, managing supplier relationships, and delivering value to the business. The successful candidate will work closely with stakeholders across various departments to drive procurement excellence and support business objectives. Key Responsibilities: • Lead and develop category strategies for global procurement categories (e.g., IT, indirect goods and services, logistics, marketing, etc.). • Conduct detailed market analysis, benchmarking, and supplier assessments to build actionable category plans. • Align category strategies with business goals and collaborate with senior management to ensure alignment with the organisation's objectives. • Develop and maintain strong, strategic relationships with key suppliers and partners. • Negotiate contracts and agreements, ensuring compliance with company policies and industry best practices. • Monitor supplier performance and implement corrective actions where necessary to ensure service delivery and quality standards are met. • Drive cost reduction initiatives, process improvements, and innovation within procurement categories. • Ensure the delivery of cost savings and value generation while maintaining or improving product/service quality. • Monitor and report on savings and other KPIs, ensuring accountability and alignment with procurement objectives. • Collaborate with key stakeholders, including finance, legal, operations, and business leaders, to ensure procurement strategies align with organizational needs and requirements. • Provide procurement support for new product launches, cost optimization initiatives, and organisational transformation projects. • Stay abreast of market trends, pricing dynamics, and emerging technologies in assigned categories. • Identify and manage risks within the supply chain, ensuring business continuity and supplier resilience. • Mitigate supply chain disruptions by building contingency plans and diversifying supplier bases. • Ensure procurement activities adhere to company policies, compliance standards, and regulatory requirements. • Provide regular reports on procurement performance, cost savings, supplier performance, and category strategy execution to senior leadership. Qualifications: Education: • Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or related field (Master’s degree or relevant certifications are a plus). Experience: • Minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic procurement, with at least 2-3 years in category management within a global environment. • Proven track record of delivering cost savings, improving supplier performance, and managing complex supplier relationships. • Experience working in large, cross-functional teams, and managing multi-regional procurement operations. Skills & Competencies: • Strong negotiation skills with the ability to influence and build strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders. • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to drive data-driven decision-making. • Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, global environment. • Knowledge of procurement software and tools (e.g., SAP, Ariba, Oracle). • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information to senior leadership. • Ability to navigate and influence in a matrix organisational structure