Head of Category Management

Role Purpose

This role will assist in the transformation of Procurement, by promoting best practice to maximise benefits associated with third party spend by ensuring the company optimizes its procurement outcomes in response to the current and anticipated strategic and operations requirements. Responsible for the revamp of procurement within all applicable categories including, process, policy, approach and in developing category strategies enabling procurement to be a valued business partner.

Role Accountabilities

Strategy

• Establish a robust framework for category management across the organization: set the vision, define processes, and ensure alignment with overall business objectives.
• Adopt a strategic approach to large areas of spend or areas of high risk across all applicable categories.
• Assist with the development of practical processes and policies.
• Responsible for ensuring category strategies are developed and implemented where applicable.
• Support development of continuous improvement.
• Accountable for the portfolio framework within relevant categories to help ensure cost leadership, compliance and best in class supplier performance.
• Develop and implement supplier relationship management framework which plays into all category strategies.
• Support responsible and sustainable procurement policy and process.

Operating Excellence

• Contribute to setting, driving and implementation of global procurement standards and best practices.
• Responsible for entire S2C aspect of Procurement, including high impact sourcing events, and managing corresponding internal resources.
• Manage strategic procurement projects across all categories, to ensure alignment between costs, commercial needs and operational execution (sourcing strategy, TCO modelling, negotiation strategy and contracting).
• Ensure implementation of digital procurement tools (eSourcing, eCatalogues, eAuctions) within relevant categories.

Business partnering / Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain effective relationships and be a credible business partner.
• Work with the business to understand spend, risk profile, requirements and process.
• Strengthen the credibility of the procurement team to be able to influence procurement decisions and outcomes.
• Manage key stakeholders for collaboration and implementation of key initiatives.

Process

• Assist with the development of practical processes and policies.
• Support development of continuous improvement.
• Support development of sustainable procurement framework.

People Management

• Provide oversight and direction to the employees in the team in accordance with the organisation's policies and procedures where appropriate.
• Consciously create an engaging workplace culture that emphasizes the identified mission, vision, guiding principles, and values of the organisation.
• Empower employees to take responsibility for their jobs and goals. Delegate responsibility, drive accountability and provide regular feedback for continuous improvement.
• Maintain two-way transparent communication. Appropriately communicate organization information through meetings, appropriate email, and regular interpersonal communication.

Safety

• Take responsibility for the safety of myself and those around me by displaying safety leadership principles (i.e. Safety I’s & Accountability ladder).
• Challenging and stopping unsafe acts and behaviors or unsafe conditions.
• Comply with the Global Safety Standards, Policies and Operating Procedures.

Key Qualifications & Skills

Qualifications

• CIPS Qualification desirable.
• Master's degree within relevant field (MBA, MSc, MEng).

Technical Skills

• 5-7 years of Procurement experience, including Category Management.
• Experience within supply chain management and shipping.
• Experience with procurement software and analytics tools.

Professional Skills

• Highly developed interpersonal skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to change the status quo.
• Change management.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Highly developed and effective communication skills.
• Ability to work with virtual teams.