Category Manager

Short Description - Category Manager

Full Job Description

The Category Manager is a key member of the group procurement team and is responsible for the creation and ongoing management of category management activity within a “Total Acquisition Cost” framework.

The role is responsible for the development and implementation of purchasing and supply chain strategies in order to manage supply chain risk and deliver significant benefit to the Rivus Fleet Solutions organisation.

The role will provide a single point of accountability for sourcing performance in relation to the categories / sub-categories under management and requires a high degree of product and market focus. This means an ability to drive improvement through demand and specification-based initiatives as well as through the more traditional purchasing based activity e.g. spend consolidation / negotiation etc. In addition, the role should consider the internal costs of managing suppliers and supply chains, including working capital, and the cost of poor quality and delivery performance

It is the responsibility of the Category Manager to ensure that the total cost of acquisition of goods and services are considered and optimised, and that potential supply chain risks are formally identified, minimised and mitigated. The Category Manager sits outside of the business units and, by utilising the full Rivus Fleet Solutions scale and buying power, is required to develop strategies that will benefit the wider organisation. However, this is to be achieved by working closely with the business units, through the operational and customer management teams.

The role of Category Manager is also responsible for ensuring that the optimum supply relationship is developed, and effective leverage applied to the supply base in order to achieve business targets and maximise competitive advantage. This includes the inter-relationship between back-end supply and front-end customer contracts in order to ensure that the full supply chain is considered

In order to ensure that suppliers and supply chains remain competitive, it is the responsibility of the Category Manager to ensure that suitable measures of performance, contractual terms and conditions, cost driver analysis and supply chain risk management is all effective and improved through a culture of continuous improvement and cost reduction.

What you’ll do

Develop & implement robust and effective Category based sourcing strategies (through the gateway process), including:-

A structured analysis of historic spend, and robust forecasts of future requirements

A thorough analysis of current supply, and future potential supply possibilities

Engagement of key stakeholders across the businesses, and development of strategies through an inclusive, team approach - Achievement of stakeholder buy-in to changes

Implementation of strategy through a planned and structured project management-based approach

Ongoing monitoring of the effectiveness of any change

Development and implementation of a category specific savings plan - Drive the implementation of savings projects and monitor them through a governance process

To work with the wider business in order to ensure that the category strategy is effectively implemented into the business units

Effectively manage the category

Develop a detailed knowledge of the category, the suppliers and key cost drivers in order to take advantage of opportunities, and to pre-empt and mitigate risks.

To lead supplier negotiations in order to yield significant cost savings and supply chain improvements

Develop relationships with key strategic suppliers

Apply leverage strategies where applicable e.g. reverse auctions

Take a total acquisition cost (TAC) approach to costs savings

Ongoing monitoring of the cost drivers

Effectively monitor the performance of the suppliers at site level, and consolidate at group level in order to determine a balanced view of supplier performance to Rivus Fleet Solutions (QCD)

Provide weekly / monthly category updates as required

Support the development of standardised supplier and spend data coding and spend data analysis

Ensure that payment terms are optimised

Ensure that early payment, and other discounts / rebates are maximised (in conjunction with business unit requirements e.g. working capital constraints)

Maintain procurement information and contract files specific to the category.

Provide the link to the sales and commercial team in terms of raw materials costs and availability in order to support the CRM organisation

Drive innovation from the supply chain

What you’ll get

• An enhanced employer pension contribution rate of between 5% and 10% and pension deductions made through salary sacrifice for tax and national insurance savings.
• Comprehensive life insurance
• Free eye test vouchers and vouchers towards the cost of glasses (dependent on test results)
• Access to ‘My Staff Shop’ our Rivus benefits portal with 1000’s of high street, online, supermarket, cinema, travel and gym discounts.
• Financial and health wellbeing programs and support including and employee assistance programme
• Reward & recognition programs
• Agile ways of working for office staff
• Long service awards when you reach key milestones
• The opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking collaborative team who will focus on your future career and development.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £50,000.00-£60,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus scheme