Pioneering trusted medical solutions to improve the lives we touch: Convatec is a FTSE 100 global medical products and technologies company, focused on solutions for the management of chronic conditions, with leading positions in advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence and critical care, and infusion care.
Group revenues in 2023 were over $2 billion. With around 10,000 colleagues, we provide our products and services in over 100 countries, united by a promise to be forever caring. Our products provide a range of benefits, from infection prevention and protection of at-risk skin, to improved patient outcomes and reduced care costs. To learn more about Convatec, please visit
Job Summary
This is a key role within the Global Procurement function driving a high-performance culture and setting the standard for Procurement Excellence. We are looking for a Category Manager who will bring a strategic and innovative Category Management approach to Convatec as we continue our transformation journey.
The Category Manager will have accountable for end-to-end Global Category Management for one or more categories of Convatec Direct/Indirect Procurement spend.
You will develop long term strategic plans for the category that align to current and future customer/business needs. This will include defining category strategy through to key stakeholder and supplier interaction that delivers optimal levels of cost management, resilience, and continuous improvement.
Your Accountabilities and Responsibilities:
1. You will develop fully integrated and customer/business-aligned Category Strategy(s) for assigned spend area(s) engaging with key stakeholder groups in doing this. This could be on a regional or global basis dependent on the category profile.
2. You will manage critical relationships (stakeholder and supplier) to ensure that Category Strategies are highly aligned to current and future business needs and that the supply base is capable of supporting these strategies.
3. You will engage with key category stakeholders and suppliers to develop strategic plans, in order to deliver category strategy.
4. You will be responsible for the implementation of the category plan to ensure that procurement activities deliver the expected value to the business.
5. You will be accountable for delivering the contracts, agreements, and sourcing strategies for the supply of materials/products and/or services that support defined strategies.
6. You will be accountable for the Source to Contract (S2C) process, including identification of opportunities, sourcing strategy ( RFP or E-Auction), evaluation, recommendation, and award.
7. You will be accountable through Supplier Relationship Management for ensuring that the supplier base supporting your category(s) is continually assessed and developed to meet changing business/customer demands. This will include identifying and driving continuous improvement/innovation initiatives that will generate value through increased supplier performance and/or capabilities.
8. You will be responsible for ensuring ESG targets are met for the suppliers that fall within your category(s).
9. Depending on complexity of categories being managed, you might be required to line manage a Strategic Buyer(s) to ensure timely implementation of category plans.
The Ideal Candidate should bring the following qualities to the role :
10. 5 years + working within a Strategic Procurement/Sourcing environment, employing a formal category/sourcing management process (preferably in a similar regulated industry), with MCIPS to level 6.
11. A clear understanding of Category Management principles with a demonstrated ability to define a strategy and translate it into actionable plans and manage these plans through to implementation.
12. Experience working with e-procurement tools to find, evaluate & select the best vendors to support category plans.
13. An autonomous, self-starter with a good understanding of how to map out and build a relevant stakeholder network.
14. Able to demonstrate the values and behaviors required to be successful in the role and support the Convatec ‘Forever Caring’ Promise.
15. Excellent inter-personal & communication skills with ability to communicate through a variety of formats to an audience of internal stakeholders of differing seniority and with external partners.
16. Results and solution oriented, with a focus on meeting required targets and deadlines.
17. Possess significant ability for analytical problem-solving and analysis/interpretation of complex problems, incorporating data gathered from a variety of sources/software tools.
18. Good understanding of financial principles, resource planning and allocation, to support delivery of a Category Plan to deliver cost management, resilience, and continuous improvement.
19. Experience of negotiating with suppliers on all commercial and contractual matters and applying judgement as to what constitutes an acceptable level of contractual risk and supply resilience.
20. Able to promote and foster new ideas and strategies among internal and external stakeholders, challenging the status quo with sustainable solution(s).
21. Able to influence key stakeholders and professionally challenge requirements to secure best value for the business.
22. Able to work with a range of technically and culturally diverse people in a matrix environment, influencing them to achieve goals in a timely manner to help drive business results.
23. Need to demonstrate and apply analytical as well as strategic thinking skills, support teamwork, display exceptional judgment, collaboration, and decision-making.
Working Conditions:
24. Hybrid working
Language Skills Required:
25. Speaking: English
26. Writing/Reading: English
Our ambitions will bring the very best out in you. You’ll be pushed to aim higher and really own your work. You’ll be encouraged and supported to make things happen too. It can be challenging. But, as the progress you make will help improve the lives of millions, it’ll be worth it.
This is stepping up to a challenge.
This is work that’ll move you.
#ForeverCaring #ForeverConvatec #WeAreConvatec
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Equal opportunities
Convatec provides equal employment opportunities for all current employees and applicants for employment. This policy means that no one will be discriminated against because of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, nationality, citizenship, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, genetic predisposing characteristics or any other basis prohibited by law.