Procurement Category Manager - Operational Services
About the role: Are you passionate about driving cost savings, building strong stakeholder relationships, and shaping procurement strategies? We’re looking for a dynamic professional to become a trusted adviser within SJP, spearheading our Operational Services procurement initiatives to unlock maximum value.
As our key Procurement Partner, you will lead Strategic Initiatives, collaborate with the Category Lead to design and implement procurement strategies across various spend areas, including, Marketing, Travel Events, Subscriptions, Facilities, Print, Legal, and HR Services.
What you'll be doing: Strategy Implementation – working for the Category Lead ensure that the strategy set for the category is implemented and maintained across SJP. Cost Optimisation and savings - identify and deliver opportunities for cost savings and increased return on investment. Support the implementation of a cost-control approach across the category and use benchmarking to regularly test price competitiveness.
Stakeholder Engagement - collaborate across SJP directorates to implement the category strategy and find opportunities for improvement (cost / value / supplier performance / service provision) with the business. Sourcing and negotiation – responsible for sourcing events including RFIs, RFPs, benchmarking, contract negotiation and the choice of suppliers for the category. Apply negotiation strategies to help with the selection of suppliers.
Risk Management - raise risks to the strategy or suppliers to the Category lead. Reporting Analytics -feed into critical metric reporting to monitor the effectiveness of procurement activities. About you: You’ll thrive in this role if you’re a forward-thinking procurement professional with a passion for understanding market trends, innovative technologies, and guidelines in indirect procurement.
With hands-on experience in procurement and category management within indirect spend categories, you’ll have a successful track record in negotiating contracts and managing supplier relationships. Essential Criteria: Proven expertise in managing categories such as, Marketing, facilities, Legal Travel. Strong skills in developing RFPs, evaluating suppliers, and negotiating contracts.
Knowledge of cost models and the ability to articulate supplier evaluations clearly to stakeholders. Excellent communication and relationship-building skills for influencing decision-makers and fostering collaboration. CIPS qualification or equivalent experience. Exceptional interpersonal skills and a proactive attitude. Experience with risk management in procurement is advantageous.
