Category Manager

Job Title Category Manager
Salary Range Range 6
Depot / Department Procurement and Supply Chain (P&SC)
Section / Team Category Management
Reports to (job title) Lead Category Manager / Head of Category Management & Sourcing
Direct reports (job title(s) N/A

Overall Purpose of job
The Category Manager is responsible for the execution of a category management approach to the procurement of a specified portfolio of spend to ensure compliance, drive efficiencies, mitigate supple risks and drive down the total cost of ownership to the organisation. The Category Manager is responsible for conducting internal and external analyses and engaging effectively with stakeholders to determine optimum sourcing/renegotiation strategies. They will liaise with, and project manage others to execute a range of sourcing activities in support of category plans and in accordance with all policies and procedures.
The Category Manager will liaise with the Lead Category Manager on a regular basis to provide updates on category performance and provide additional insight through reporting and commentary as required. They will manage the relationship with suppliers, monitor supplier performance and interface with the Business to understand demand for and the impact of sourcing activities.
The key accountabilities of this job are:
Operational Activity
Conduct category management in accordance with the overall procurement strategy, processes and procedures.
Ensure category management delivers against targets and objectives (such as cost avoidance/reduction and total cost of ownership/quality improvements.
Periodically support the Sourcing Managers during tender processes to ensure effective buying in accordance with sourcing strategies.
Coach all relevant parties on category management to build the capability and awareness within the organisation.
Proactive and effective support of the wider Procurement & Supply Chain Commercial (P&C) team. Work closely with all P&C colleagues to ensure they have clear priorities aligned with business objectives.
Conduct peer reviews for Category Management Plans and Sourcing documentation (not limited to: Strategies, PQQs, ITTs, Standstill letters, Tender Evaluation Reports (TERs), and Regulated Investment Committee (RIC)/Board Papers) to ensure high quality plans are developed and executed to maximise value creation in addition to development of the template documentation to continuously improve to maximise value creation.
Stakeholder Management
Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the development and delivery of category strategies, aligned with corporate and business unit strategies and value drivers.
Develop and foster relationships with stakeholders, technical specialists, suppliers, collaborative bodies and marketplace forums.
Create an efficient interface for other departments to work effectively with the category team.
Drive consultation processes with stakeholders to ensure procurement activities mirror actual service requirements.
Market Analysis and Benchmarking
Maintain and lead an expert level of knowledge of the supply chain for assigned categories of spend to ensure there is a sustainable value driver for required categories.
To lead on continuous improvement activities in the following areas;
Developing routes to procurement based on market developments and changes to requirements, develop clear specification and scope documents that enable best requirement provision fit.
Understand cost drivers and levers when reviewing or formulating specifications and make sure potential costs are fully understood.
Use knowledge to ensure correct supplier performance KPI's are in place and monitored to maintain and improve supplier performance for each category and across the Group.
Category Spend Analysis
You will be responsible for analysing the spend per category to detail opportunities such as; savings, strategic importance to the organisation, level of risk or to simply identify any lack of compliance with the category plan.
Supplier Performance Metrics
You will be accountable for measuring, analysing and managing the supplier ability to comply with, and exceed, their contractual obligations. This will include regular reviews throughout the duration of contract delivery.
Reducing risk through implementation of contractual rigour, improving sustainability and facilitating the drive to improve the quality and reliability of the supply chain.
Compliance
Adhere to all Company policies and procedures and relevant laws and regulations.
Support external and internal audit activities as required, such as providing information as requested in a timely manner.
Maintain an effective control environment and respond to breaches/weaknesses appropriately in conjunction with Internal Audit.
Ensure that all category-related operational activity and documentation is captured and properly recorded.
Expertise
The knowledge, skills and experience required for this role are:
Business Knowledge
Broad knowledge of markets and various aspects of a group of products and services
Broad understanding of marketplace
Understand business needs and be able to put them in overall contact
Knowledge of company policies and procedures, UK and EU Procurement Legislation
Essential Functional / Technical Skills
Good understanding and experience of Category Management and its implementation
Minimum of 5 years procurement experience in a similar industry
CIPS qualification preferred but not essential
Personal proven track record in executing complex procurement activities
Project management skills
Broad knowledge of contracts with ability to draft special terms, including dispute procedures
Knowledge of relevant statutory and legal provisions
Detailed knowledge of Company procurement policy and procedures
Understanding of the supply chain and how to improve it
Knowledge of Procurement related systems such as Oracle, Jaggaer, Achilles Utilities Vendor Database
Ability to influence people outside own sphere of responsibility
Advanced negotiation skills
Highly numerate
Highly developed drafting and writing skills
Decision Maker
Customer Focused
Influencing and Leadership
Strategic thinking
High self confidence - confidence to challenge the norm and think creatively
Self motivated
Resilience
Organised and systematic
Good communications and presentation skills
Analytical
Finisher
Good team player
Conflict resolution
Personal Attributes / Competencies
Competency Evaluation
Strategic orientation:
Works independently, target focused and result driven, strong ability to bring about change, energetic and driven taking a hands-on approach Competent
Customer orientation:
Develops an atmosphere of confidence, respect and trust; acts as a role model within the team, strong service and customer orientation Mastery
Achievement orientation
Delivers on tasks effectively, produces high quality outputs in a timely fashion Competent
Relationship building
Builds relationships across all levels of the organisation, as well as externally Competent
Innovation and problem solving
Solves complex problems, develops new and innovative ways to overcome issues Competent
Process skills/Technical skills; Business Stakeholder Management, Market analysis and Benchmarking, Category Spend Analysis, Supplier Performance Metrics, Internal Category Coaching/Communications, Innovation Strategy/Cost & Value Efficiencies, Internal Demand Reviews, Specification Review & Standardisation, Supplier Relationship Management, Risk Management, RFQ/ITT, Negotiation, Evaluation and analysis, Procurement Contract, Contract Management.
Mastery

Decision Making Authority
The most important decisions typically expected to be taken:
Ensure the Category Plans capture all factors both internal and external and as a result understand the landscape in order to be able to challenge the business on existing practices and make recommendation
Long term viability of purchases (i.e. maintenance, growth)
Assess each project within the business strategy of the company
Approval of sourcing event recommendations made by Sourcing Managers/Officers
Approval of recommendations to resolve disputes with Suppliers

The most important recommendations expected to be made for others to decide on are:
Category Plans which will include strategies to deal with the demand.
Category Plans which challenge the norm and recommend alternative solutions.
Terminating or reducing volumes with existing suppliers to the benefit of the organisation.
Analysing and providing recommendations for special items which require alternative strategies.
Escalating matters where agreement between stakeholders and/or other members of the wider Procurement and Commercial Team have tried but failed to agree upon.

Impact
Key Financial Measures:
Procurement of complex, long term and strategic supply contracts to achieve category specific cost avoidance and/or reductions in total cost of ownership. This could involve individual contracts ranging in value from £10k to £2bn.
Key Projects / Activities Manged:
Prepare and execute Category Plans for allocated category
Drafting and reviewing special terms for one-off projects - risk mitigation
Guiding the development of procurement systems and processes
Any other activities identified by the Head of Category Management

Influence
Typical reason for contact Type of contact Job title of contact Frequency
Direct Line Management Telephone / F2F / e-mail / meetings Lead Category Manager Weekly
Discuss Category & Sourcing progress/ demand/issues/Team and supplier performance etc. Telephone / F2F / e-mail / meetings Head of Category Management Fortnightly
Stakeholder engagement Telephone / F2F / e-mail / meetings Across business mainly.
But normally those reporting into Director and Heads of business. As required (Monthly - Quarterly)
Supply chain management Telephone / F2F / e-mail / meetings CEO / MD's of suppliers and key account managers Monthly
Comparing strategies, lessons learned, best practices, internal & external analysis As above Category Managers /
Sourcing Managers Weekly
Reviewing/approving progress during key stages of sourcing activities.
Assisting in sourcing activities as required (e.g. negotiations) Telephone / F2F / e-mail / meetings Sourcing Managers Daily
Cross business implementation of contracts As above Peers in other areas of P&SC As required
Advice and discussion on T&C's As above Legal (internal & External) As required
Advice on TUPE issues re. contracts As above HR As required

Resource
Types of Jobs Managed by Jobholder No. of staff Direct/indirect
Sourcing Managers 3-5 Indirect
Sourcing Officers 2-5 Indirect