Category Managers - Group Procurement

Vacancy - Category Managers - Group Procurement

Are you an experienced Procurement professional with a passion for driving forward a sustainable, value-adding and resilient supply chain? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, results-driven environment? We're seeking a Category Manager to lead procurement activities, ensuring our supply chain solutions are delivering best value across our operations, maximising profitability and meeting our strategic corporate goals.

Your role

Reporting to our Group Head of Procurement, you will collaborate extensively across our stakeholder network to develop a deep understanding of category needs and external market dynamics across either our Facilities Management or Engineering services portfolio.

You will engage with stakeholders to build extensive insights of the ‘as is’ model and progress to challenge existing practice. You will drive a strong innovation focus across your category and develop multi-year Category plans endorsed by key sponsors. Demonstrating a laser focus on the optimised execution of category plans to ensure operational targets are delivered and Category strategies are aligned to business goals. 

You will invest in the development of outstanding key supplier relationships and governance in all activities, including supply chain risk management, continuous improvement and contractual compliance.

You will provide commercial expertise to support leaders and managers to recognise and mitigate operational risks.

What you'll bring

You will have:

• Ideally have CIPS qualification
• Experience developing robust insights analysis, interpreting and challenging stakeholder requirements where necessary  
• Possess in depth knowledge of external market dynamics and relevant industry trends
• Previous experience in the development and execution of sustainability initiatives across your category
• Knowledge of cost modelling to drive continuous improvement opportunities
• Ability to translate needs into clear category requirements and deliver innovation and operational efficiencies, through targeted execution of category plans
• Proven ability to influence and work collaboratively with senior level stakeholders and experience of using supplier relationship management best practice to support continuous improvement and operational efficiencies
• Experience of developing and delivering category plans and strategies ideally within the Facilities Management OR Engineering services arena
• Skilled negotiator with experience of navigating complex service delivery models
• Commercially astute with the ability to select the optimal commercial process to delivering maximum value
• Track record of implementing best in class procurement solutions, processes and governance models
• Ideally, exposure to working within a Regulated Procurement environment, however, this is not essential.

Who are we?

Already one of the UK’s leading port and logistics companies, our business contains several Statutory Harbour Authorities (SHAs) and as such operate within a Regulated environment.  We continue to commit substantial capital investment across our operations to achieve our vision of becoming the UK’s leading port operator.  We have ambitious plans to grow and transform the supply chain to benefit our customers.  Our investments are decarbonizing our operations, which in turn is helping us work towards our goal of having Net Zero Port Operations by 2040.  Much of our success depends on our unrivalled facilities and technology. But in our sector, it comes down to having the right talent to enable our organisation to grow.

What we can offer you

In addition to a competitive salary, we have a strong track record of developing our people to expand their skills and experience and develop their careers.  Valuing and rewarding our workforce is important to us, which is why we offer a fantastic range of flexible benefits to choose from, such as:

• 27 days holiday per annum (plus bank holidays)
• Matched contribution pension scheme up to 10%
• Peel Ports Flexible Benefits including salary sacrifice car scheme, healthcare cash plans, Cycle2Work Scheme, critical illness insurance, gyms, retail vouchers
• Commitment to learning and personal development 
• We promote good physical and mental health and can provide additional support to colleagues via our employee assistance programme when required

If you believe you have the skills and experience, we are seeking, and you want to join a thriving and ambitious place to work, we’d really like to hear from you!