Procurement Category Advisor - TRM & Acquisition in Sunbury-on-Thames

The Advisor provides category leadership for key sub-categories of spend in support of the global Total Resource Management (TRM) strategy. As a representative of TRM, they will act as the primary point of contact for one of bp’s entity groups, driving end-to-end spend management analysis and opportunity identification to deliver Talent cost optimization. They collaborate across and beyond procurement, including with regional, business, and FBT resources. They support the wider procurement business in developing innovative approaches to deliver business objectives and ensure long-term, efficient end-to-end category execution.

Key Accountabilities:

• Full accountability for TRM activities in the delegated bp entity.
• Primary ownership of the TRM data in the entity and ensuring it is up to date – replacing assumed data with actuals, addressing unclassified spend.
• Developing a deep understanding of non-employee numbers and spend in the entity.
• Frequent checking of data from the TRM PMO to ensure accuracy and alignment with business understanding.
• Ongoing checking and ownership of reporting on anomalies.
• Understanding the story behind the data.
• Monitoring interventions and driving them to conclusion.
• Creation and maintenance of a vendor dictionary to enable consistent reporting and guidance to the business.

Stakeholder:

• Ensure all impacted collaborators are aware of what is being sent to their business and maintain alignment with entity SPAs/Cost Champions.
• Understand conflicting programmes and initiatives, helping to bring this understanding together for the entity.
• Develop plans and activities for non-employee populations where next steps and timelines are not yet agreed.
• Model what the population will look like as the year progresses; strategic workforce planning and forecasting reductions and additions for projects.
• Help VMO understand the context of information requested and its benefits.
• Own ongoing reporting into cSuite, including EVP dashboard each month.
• Share the TRM vision through storytelling.

Transformation And Change Management:

• Implement transformation initiatives delivering incremental business value.
• Leverage digital solutions to drive innovation, enhancing efficiency, effectiveness and value creation.
• Partner with internal subject area teams to drive category excellence.
• Use influencing, storytelling and communication to encourage adoption.

Team Integration:

• Work within a team of Account Managers, embracing a culture of collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Act as an SME and advocate for the category, sharing knowledge across teams to meet business needs.
• Build category knowledge across the wider procurement organization to ensure strategy execution.
• Develop technical capabilities to deliver category operational excellence.
• Embrace accelerator skills; curiosity about external markets, innovation and technological disruption.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management:

• Use storytelling to connect with collaborators and external partners.
• Lead and influence through complexity and ambiguity.
• Unite diverse collaborators, ensuring advantageous supply avenues and collaborative solutions.
• Build collaborator relationships with market insights and champion supplier value while understanding business needs.

Innovative Strategies & Commercial Models:

• Forge pioneering strategies and innovative commercial models in procurement methods and category strategies.

Market Insight & Forward-Thinking:

• Remain attuned to market dynamics, balancing legacy needs with proactive transformational strategies.

Essential Education:

• Degree or equivalent work experience; contingent labour related background preferred.
• Post-graduate qualification related to procurement desirable.

Essential Experience And Job Requirements:

• Functional knowledge: Knowledge of category management principles and experience in undertaking procurement processes and developing category strategies.
• Business expertise: Stakeholder management and influencing skills to understand supported businesses/regions/assets and their long-term objectives.
• Leadership: An SME in the relevant category or related areas, sharing knowledge and implementing strategy.
• Problem solving: Analytical thinking to develop and evaluate solutions.
• Interpersonal skills: Strong collaboration with the category team and global partners.

Desirable criteria:

• Proficiency in managing strategic supplier relationships in large multinational settings.
• Consultancy, advisory or project experience in major change programs.
• Familiarity with innovative technologies and AI.

Additional Information:

• bp provides an inclusive culture and diverse, engaged teams.
• Access to social communities and networks.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Life and health insurance; medical care package.

Why join us?

bp supports people to grow in a diverse environment; benefits may include flexible working options, parental leave, retirement benefits, and accommodations for disabilities in the recruitment process.