Category Manager - Supply Chain

At TJX Europe, every day brings new opportunities for growth, exploration, and achievement. You will be part of our vibrant team that embraces diversity, fosters collaboration, and prioritises your development. Whether you are working in our Distribution Centers, Corporate Offices, or Retail Stores-TK Maxx & Homesense, you will find abundant opportunities to learn, thrive, and make an impact.

This role is based in Watford with occasional travel overseas.

Job Summary

To manage the delivery and implementation of GS&P category strategies across TJX Europe. Through collaboration with the business and vendors alike, the Category Manager will ensure that the needs of the business are achieved through the implementation of optimal sourcing solutions.

The role will require the use of a variety of tools and techniques including, but not limited to:

• Cost based pricing
• Cost targeting
• Total cost of ownership
• Demand management
• Supplier relationship management
• Trend analysis
• Process improvement
• Consortia buying

to create competitive cost advantage supporting the following areas:

• Supply Chain Management: Supporting the supply chain process, including procurement, transportation, warehousing, and distribution, covered under 3PL Contract logistics.
• Inventory Management: Supporting on warehouse/storage considerations and strategy.
• Customer Relationship Management: Liaising with business partners & suppliers to understand their logistics needs and helping advise on providing tailored solutions.
• Operational Efficiency: Working and supporting the team on strategies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service quality.
• Technology Integration: Supporting and advising on logistics software and technology to streamline operations and improve data accuracy.

Key Responsibilities

• Executes global, international and national category plans via tools embedded in the strategic sourcing methodology and in collaboration with internal business partners.
• Embraces regional international and cross-functional multi-cultural teams in the execution of the strategic sourcing process and the implementation of the strategy.
• Develops and evolves product or service requirements across all TJX's brands and geographies.
• Maximises opportunities to batch multi-divisional requirements to create larger pools of sourcing to increase savings to TJX.
• Prepares a regional negotiation plan and executes accordingly involving TJX legal, as necessary.
• Pro-actively uses automated sourcing processes including auctions, RFX's, and relationship management systems.
• Manages the commercial element of supplier relationships.
• Understands tradeoffs of risk, quality, and cost, and manages each area through supplier management, contracting, and negotiations.
• Maintains fair, courteous and productive relationships with all TJX international strategic vendors and reinforces TJXE's positive brand image within the vendor community.
• Looks to identify or develop and incorporate innovative products, services, approaches such as off-shoring, out-sourcing, consortia development, best country sourcing to support TJXE low-cost producer strategy.
• Ensures that appropriate contractual terms are in place.
• Prepares category reports for the Manager Of Category and the GSPLT.
• Raises market innovation for covered categories and brings applicable ideas to the business for testing, cost modelling and performance measurement.

People Management and Leadership

• Supports the optimization of TJXE £500 million indirect spend globally (6+ countries).
• On a category basis, undertakes annual sourcing initiatives delivering between £1 and £2 million in yearly savings.
• Responsible and impacts up to £75 million in indirect spend on an international basis.
• Manages key strategic and day-to-day operational regional supplier relationships by actively planning and delivering on action items through the management of regional and national account executives.
• Actively represents TJX within the global supplier community and the business world at large.
• Vendor management and the harvesting of innovation from our vendor community is an integral part of the job description.
• Recommends category initiative within portfolio of spend (10 to 20 initiatives per year).
• Decides on negotiation plan and executes accordingly.
• Recommendation for final vendor selection.

Key Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Bachelor's degree (preferred).
• Experience in off shoring and outsourcing.
• Expertise in global strategic category sourcing.
• Experience in global sourcing and Low-Cost Country Sourcing preferred.
• Multi-country negotiations and contracts.
• Experience in managing multiple stakeholders.
• Supply chain / International Logistics related category experience and knowledge.
• Oracle/SAP/Ariba or similar e-sourcing/P2P experience/knowledge.
• Strong business, analytical and people management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal relationship development skills.
• Training & development skills.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint.
• CIPS qualified (Preferred).

As proud as we are of our past success, it’s our future that excites us most. We strive to provide opportunities for growth, recognition and a competitive salary and benefits package. Share our determination to think bolder and bigger, and be part of our future. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and/or sexual orientation.

Address: 73 Clarendon Road
Location: EUR Home Office Watford GB