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- Tasks: Lead strategic sourcing and optimise Professional Services categories for impactful transformation.
- Company: Dynamic organisation focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for career advancement.
- Other info: Join a fast-paced environment with opportunities to influence senior stakeholders.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by driving strategic procurement and supplier innovation.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in purchasing, strong leadership, and excellent negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
This role leads the strategic sourcing, development, and ongoing optimisation of a diverse portfolio of Professional Services categories, supporting BAU and Reimagine transformation.
Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities
- Category Strategy
- Lead the development and delivery of Strategic Category Plans (SCPs), ensuring creation, alignment, and compliance.
- Conduct detailed spend analytics, demand modelling, and market intelligence assessments.
- Translate business needs into actionable category strategies.
- Define long-term category roadmaps including supplier segmentation and maturity progression.
- Identify, assess, and rationalise the supplier base.
- Lead cross-functional category governance, including Consultancy Category Boards.
- Promote early stakeholder engagement and strategic procurement planning.
- Identify and drive continuous improvements in category management maturity.
- Sourcing
- Lead end-to-end sourcing events for all Professional Services categories.
- Apply Total Cost of Ownership principles and value-based procurement.
- Lead complex negotiations including contractual, commercial, and delivery-based elements.
- Develop bespoke sourcing strategies for complex or urgent business demands.
- Partner with Legal (OGC) for commercial terms, IP, and risk considerations.
- Coach and support junior buyers on procurement excellence.
- Ensure high-quality sourcing documentation (eGSP, SBR, SCP alignment, SAP Ariba).
- Align with global and regional buying teams.
- Contract Management & Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
- Lead the end-to-end Contract Management lifecycle across Professional Services.
- Develop performance frameworks including KPIs, SLAs, and governance structures.
- Conduct regular SRM reviews with senior supplier executives.
- Identify in-contract value including rate optimisation and scope refinement.
- Own supplier-related risk management activities.
- Ensure clear contractual deliverables and milestone tracking.
- Drive supplier innovation, digitalisation, and productivity improvements.
- Ensure commercial governance and auditing compliance.
- Stakeholder Leadership & Business Partnering
- Build strong, trusting, and influential relationships with stakeholders.
- Act as a commercial advisor to senior leadership.
- Support business case development with commercial insights.
- Challenge and manage demand to ensure cost efficiency.
- Partner with Transformation Leads, Finance, and more.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential:
- Self-motivated, uses initiative and problem solver – focussed on delivering results, with a proven track record of demonstrating logic and analytical thinking.
- Able to deliver quality and consistency in a complex, highly demanding environment.
- Professionally qualified with a proven track record in a purchasing environment.
- Strong leadership and influencing skills (experience in managing senior stakeholders is vital).
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship management skills and experience.
- An excellent negotiator with a proven track record of successful commercial negotiations.
- Able to manage and execute complex projects on time and in budget.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to converse at all levels of the organisation and with external suppliers/customers.
- Valid Driving license required.
Desirable:
- Previous experience as a Buyer in an Indirect Procurement function.
- Shared Service/Business Process Outsourcing background desirable but not mandatory.
- Ability to be highly organised and continually focus on attention to detail.
- A commercial understanding of terms and conditions and ability to negotiate them (with the support of OGC).
Senior Category Buyer - 37149415 employer: Emotiv Technical Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Emotiv Technical Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Category Buyer - 37149415
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at industry events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that Senior Category Buyer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its procurement strategies. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in strategic sourcing and supplier management.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Senior Category Buyer, you’ll need to showcase your ability to lead complex negotiations. We suggest role-playing with a friend or mentor to sharpen those skills before the big day.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals who can drive continuous improvements in category management.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Category Buyer - 37149415
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Category Buyer role. Highlight your experience in strategic sourcing and stakeholder management, as these are key aspects of the job. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of your successes in procurement and negotiations. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact. This helps us understand the value you can bring to our team.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This ensures that your application is received promptly and allows us to process it efficiently. Plus, it’s the best way to stay updated on your application status!
How to prepare for a job interview at Emotiv Technical Recruitment
✨Know Your Categories Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the specific Professional Services categories you'll be managing. Understand the market trends, key suppliers, and any recent changes in the industry. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to lead strategic category plans.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of complex negotiations you've successfully led in the past. Be ready to discuss your approach to Total Cost of Ownership and how you've achieved value-based procurement. This will highlight your ability to handle the complexities of the role and impress your interviewers.
✨Build Relationships with Stakeholders
Think about how you've built strong relationships with senior stakeholders in previous roles. Be prepared to share specific instances where your influencing skills made a difference. This will show that you understand the importance of stakeholder management in driving successful outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Abilities
Be ready to discuss challenges you've faced in procurement and how you've tackled them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. This will showcase your analytical thinking and self-motivation, which are crucial for this role.