Category Manager in Walsall

We are currently recruiting for a Category Manager to join our Finance Team in Walsall. The ideal candidate will have a generalist background in Procurement and a real desire to learn. We are looking for someone who is pro-active, used to multi-tasking and working on various projects at once. You will have real determination and a positive 'can do' attitude. Business partnering skills would be highly beneficial as you will be expected to build positive relationships, influence people and manage stakeholders effectively.

We work in a hybrid way, mostly remote with a requirement to travel into our Walsall office at least twice a week to work with the team. With that in mind, you will be located within a convenient commute to Walsall.

PURPOSE OF YOUR ROLE

The role of the Category Manager will be to own and manage a c£30m Indirect category, consisting of 5 key areas: Marketing, Facilities Management, HR, Professional Services and Travel.

• Ability to manage full tender process and present sourcing recommendations for approval at an Executive level by demonstrating expertise on the procurement process followed and by providing clear rationale to support decisions.
• Support internal stakeholders with supplier relationship management of key contracts including: attendance/governance of Quarterly Business Reviews, review of supplier scorecards, performance reviews and risk assessments.
• Liaising with Legal to ensure appropriate contractual terms are secured and risk is minimised across designated categories.
• Ensure savings are delivered through income generation, cost reduction and cost avoidance initiatives.
• Managing and reducing retrospective unapproved spend on a monthly basis.
• Support the Director of Procurement in delivery of agreed objectives in line with the procurement strategy.
• Providing a commercial procurement category management function for multiple categories of this company's expenditure.
• This role does not have any direct line reports but does require the ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Engages employees by consistently role modelling company values and behaviours and proactively encouraging others to do the same.
• In line with our policy, responsible for ensuring that the principle of Treating Customers Fairly is an intrinsic part of the organisation's culture by identifying, monitoring and managing any risks within the business.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Deliver specific savings and efficiency targets.
• Initiate and lead projects to identify significant opportunities to reduce costs, reduce operational and commercial risks and increase value.
• Own the development of category strategies including research and analysis to identify category saving opportunities and develop strategic category plans.
• Represent Procurement within the businesses, engendering trust and confidence with business leaders.
• Manage risks linked to purchasing activity by promoting compliance with agreed group policies, legal requirements, and by engendering professional ethics.
• Ensure appropriate vendor management is structured, to consistently improve defined performance criteria, in conjunction with business stakeholders.
• Ensure all areas within remit comply with all legal and statutory requirements applicable, including but not exclusively FCA legislation, data protection, health and safety and corporate governance.
• Ensure all staff within remit have the requisite skills, experience, qualifications, knowledge and competence to perform the roles assigned to them.
• Manage all aspects of procurement within remit with due skill, care and diligence including effective controls, risk management and mitigation and delegation of activity to appropriate skilled and competent persons.

In addition, the role will provide HomeServe with specific expertise in the following areas:

• Market and Needs Analysis
• Sourcing Strategy
• Tender preparation and analysis
• Negotiation
• Functional process and procedure optimization (e.g. e-procurement solutions)
• Contracting
• Continuous Improvement and Supplier Relationship Management

About The Candidate

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

• Essential Experience of managing large value/complex procurement tenders.
• Experience within a broad range of indirect categories.
• Experience presenting at a senior level with confidence.
• Experience of managing cross-functional teams.

Desirable

• MCIPS
• Marketing Procurement including subcategories such as: Media, Print or Direct Mail
• Change management
• Project management
• Process reengineering

SPECIFIC REGULATORY KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCIES

Desirable

• An understanding of FCA regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of H & S legislation and ability to apply this knowledge to ensure the business complies with legislation.
• Basic up to date knowledge of Employment Legislation.
• Skilled to an intermediate level of Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Competencies

• Negotiation and Commercial Acumen
• Contracting
• Stakeholder Management
• Innovation
• Communication and Engagement
• Results Focused
• Strong influencer
• Demonstrable knowledge of the relevant supply markets and associated vendor bases, associated with the following spend categories, will be useful: Print, Fulfilment & Mail, Digital, Utilities, Facilities & Site Services, HR, Professional Services, Outsourced Service Provision.