Looking for a Category Manager for our retail luxury client and this would be a Contract Inside IR35 role (via umbrella).
Duration - 4 months
Location - West Yorkshire (onsite)
This position is responsible for providing the strategic category management direction and leadership for all services within the Travel and Expense Category. The individual will directly contribute to improvement in operations by developing and implementing procurement strategies that improve process efficiencies and support cost, quality and risk reduction initiatives. The role acts as a key partner contributing to the Travel and Expense team's objectives in delivering at a commercially viable cost. The purpose of the role is to oversee the procurement of products and services for the business area by working closely with the Business Stakeholders and Commercial Finance to identify opportunities to deliver the products and services at the best commercial value, including improvements in process, specification, and commercial relationships.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Creating sustainable value in upstream and downstream activities across all spend categories through category strategies and plans, sourcing, and the creation of excellent contracts.
2. Ongoing Category Management.
3. Ensure that Supplier contracts are delivered in line with the agreed contract, to the level of performance and quality, or escalate non-compliance at the earliest moment to key teams.
4. Research new suppliers, challenge incumbent suppliers for innovation, and monitor existing relationships.
5. Develop category strategies and plans and effective communication across the business.
6. Follow market trends to enable insights through market research, benchmarking, supplier knowledge, and networking.
7. Liaise closely with Business Partners and Finance to deliver services at the best commercial value and improve processes, specifications, and commercial relationships.
8. Work with the wider Business Services Procurement function to ensure value is driven from all commercial contracts, setting targets for improvements.
9. Understand overall acquisition costs and develop appropriate cost models for decision-making and performance reporting.
10. Ensure CSR compliance through the supply chain.
11. Drive supplier competition, development, and rationalization as appropriate.
12. Develop supplier and supply market expertise to inform category strategies.
13. Work with internal customers to ensure category projects are delivered on time and within budget.
14. Provide support to Finance teams with managing their Opex budgets.
15. Ensure the management of this category fits within the wider procurement agenda and aligns with internal stakeholder requirements & goals.
16. Drive sourcing and the creation of excellent contracts (global, regional, and single market).
17. Negotiate with suppliers to deliver significant measurable and sustainable annual savings in both budgets and cost avoidance.
18. Create RFI/RFPs through to conclusion in line with relevant Policies.
19. Lead and develop breakthrough business projects in category using advanced category management/strategic sourcing tools.
20. Ensure that the supply and suppliers are suitable for commercial use through a validation process.
21. Ensure that new vendors are reviewed for financial stability and approved for SAP on a timely basis.
22. Deliver specific projects as required.
23. Drive the identification of supplier performance improvements and close liaison with stakeholder groups to implement.
24. Own the responsibility for identifying operational supply management efficiencies.
25. Identify areas that could improve the service provided and present recommendations to Exec for implementation.
26. Continually review savings opportunities and areas for efficiencies.
27. Build strong relationships - internal and external.
PERSONAL PROFILE
1. Degree qualified (or equivalent).
2. Experience in relevant Category.
3. Relevant industry experience within Luxury Retail is desirable although not essential.
4. Ability to demonstrate category knowledge and speak with subject matter experts internally and externally.
5. Versatility, resilience, and ability to perform strongly in a changing environment.
6. Strong negotiation skills with the ability to develop and articulate cross-functional procurement strategies and processes.
7. Good knowledge of procurement concepts, processes, and techniques including commercial contracts negotiation skills and relationship management.
8. Experience implementing sourcing methodologies for category management.
9. Strong negotiation skills to achieve best TCO.
10. Strong Travel Procurement experience including contract negotiations.
11. Demonstrated leadership talent with the ability to motivate all levels of stakeholders.
12. Proven success in managing, organizing, and/or completing multiple tasks and priorities.
13. History of managing and being managed to targeted results.
14. Proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint required.
15. Ability to build and foster productive working relationships.
16. Well-developed stakeholder management skills.
17. Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to inspire trust and confidence.
18. Superior ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
19. Ability to make decisions and solve problems while working under pressure.
20. Ability to develop strategic project and category plans.
#J-18808-Ljbffr