Senior Category Manager

I am recruiting for a Senior Logistics Category manager for a leading listed business based in either London or the West Midlands. This is a permanent role, up to £85,000 base + £6,000 car allowance. Package equates £120,000 - £135,000 per annum with bonus.

What you need to do

- Support the Head of Procurement to develop the short, medium and long term category strategies and plans needed to achieve the wider business goals and commercial objectives
- Develop and deliver specific Category Plans that provide fit for purpose and sustainable sourcing and supply chains across the Group in order to achieve business and procurement objectives- balancing risk, cost and quality/service.
- Participate in and actively lead cross functional teams to successfully execute complex sourcing and commercial projects in support of the defined category plans / strategy.
- Establish and maintain a successful relationship with business stakeholders, operating as the category business partner to effectively build support for challenging commercial strategies.
- Maximise potential advantage by maintaining effective understanding of external supply markets and making the most of supplier relationships.
- Effectively manage colleagues, provide support, coaching and provocation to help them achieve their objectives and develop as individuals.
- Operate as a leading member of the procurement function, role modelling its vision and supporting the advancement of the Group Function.
- Ensure all sourcing activity is conducted in line with Procurement Policy

How I will succeed

- Combine expert category insight and knowledge, with strategic reasoning to define industry leading commercial strategies.
- Effectively and at pace understand complex scenarios, identify opportunities and risks, and take timely action to address them.
- Confidently execute and lead others in multifaceted and difficult commercial activity across a range of contracting scenarios.
- Provide effective challenge, provocation and support to my colleagues and if line responsibility to my teams, ensuring high quality outcomes.
- Maintain a trusted oversight of my category in order to identify and effectively mitigate key supply chain risks.
- Effectively communicate with the Director of Group Procurement, Head of Procurement and key business stakeholders to ensure alignment and momentum in projects being delivered.
- Play a leading role in the corporate Cost transformation programme, acting as Subject Matter Expert to identify opportunities to improve value for money.
- Complete and lead (where applicable) my colleagues to complete category planning exercises that will form the basis of future benefits programmes
- Quantify and evaluate the cost/benefit of different strategies in order to optimise outcomes.
- Within business governance framework, deliver (either self or through team) business as usual activity such as supplier appraisal and selection, contract terms, negotiation strategies and supplier management.
- Maintain my own and my team's category knowledge ensuring we are able to provide new insight and perspectives- operating as a source of insight and solutions.
- Take an agile and innovative approach to problem solving and project/ programme delivery, managing complexity, multiple priorities, uncertainty and ambiguity effectively.
- Always act with integrity.

What you need to know

- Relevant logistics category background and expertise
- Experienced Procurement professional or comparable relevant commercial experience
- Strong strategic thinking and commerciality but with hands on experience to deliver
- Strong commercial and negotiation skills with a good understanding of contract law
- Organisation and effective project management skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, influence up to and including Director level.
- Knowledge and awareness of emerging trends, opportunities and risks within my field
- Experience of 3rd party relationship management at Board level.

What you need to show

- Energetic, resilient and adaptable- effectively operate in dynamic, fast paced environments.
- Ability to quickly gain the confidence of senior stakeholders and colleagues.
- Strong judgment and ability to prioritise conflicting programs and initiatives.
- Confident in constructively challenging senior stakeholders on the decisions they make
- Wide network developed internally and externally.
- Critical thinking and analytical skills

What decisions I can make

- Sole category leadership or Line Management of 1-3 team members
- Managing categories worth £100-£500m revenue and capital expenditure across varied portfolio of categories