Procurement Category Manager - Soft Services

We are seeking a passionate and driven Category Manager for Catering Non-Food to join our team based at our office in Ipswich. Reporting to the Head of Soft Services, the Category Manager will be accountable for a multi-million-pound category covering catering equipment, equipment maintenance, vending, laundry, and catering disposables. Additionally, the Category Manager will build and maintain strong relationships with our supply chain partners and be responsible for evaluating suppliers, products, and services, negotiating supplier agreements, managing and reporting on supplier income versus budget whilst finding and driving opportunities through preferred suppliers.,

• Create and execute a category management plan to reduce total cost, improve the quality of supply and mitigate risk within the supply chain.
• Managing and running end-to-end sourcing activities and supporting the Head of Procurement in high-risk/value opportunities.
• Identifying, evaluating, negotiating, and contracting with new suppliers.
• Being a trusted commercial partner, collaborating with key stakeholders to support the category plan.
• Regular benchmarking of current inputs, services, and suppliers to ensure our supply chain is delivering maximum value and innovation.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure that quality, service and client requirements are considered and applied when negotiating commercial value.
• Form strong, productive relationships with both the business and the supply base ensuring the UK and Ireland business is the customer of choice leading to business growth and profitability
• Delivering cost reduction through procurement activities as well as mitigating inflation to improve EBIT performance.
• Responsible for negotiating and delivering procurement synergy targets on M&A activity when required
• Supporting transformation within the Procurement team and implementing change management throughout the organisation.
• Provide market and supplier insight, expertise and know-how to the organisation through regular reporting.
• Support the roles and functions of internal partners in areas such as compliance, audit, legal and encourage their support in establishing ethical behaviours and cultures.
• Comply with the CIPS Code of Conduct by enhancing and protecting the standard of the profession, maintaining the highest standard of integrity in all business relationships, and promoting the eradication of unethical business. relationships, enhancing the proficiency and stature of the profession, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
• Comply with ethical practices when sourcing goods or services for the UK and Ireland business.
  
  Necessary
• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK
• Category management experience.
• Results-driven with exceptional negotiation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Commercially focused with a proven track record of cost reduction.
• Demonstrable knowledge of owning supplier management and performance measurement.
• Strong project management skills including cross-functional team management.
• A strong negotiator who understands TCO and utilises SRM to achieve the best value.
• Ability to build sustainable and productive relationships with suppliers.
Desirable
• CIPS qualification.
Core expectations:
• Show flexibility in working arrangements to ensure that a high level of service is delivered.
• Self-motivated and able to work effectively in a demanding environment.
• Have a positive and focused attitude when dealing with all colleagues.
• Be able to take personal responsibility.
• Have a flexible and positive attitude towards work.
• Be keen to continuously improve your own learning and development.
• Support and embed the UK & Ireland group's corporate values.
• Can-do attitude and promotion of supportive culture.
  
  OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with a turnover of £1.7bn and 50,000+ colleagues. We deliver innovative, award-winning services to the public and private sectors and our mission is to make people and places the best they can be.
This role sits within our Procurement department which provides support services to the wider OCS Group and our front-line colleagues. Working at OCS is more than just a job; it's an amazing opportunity to begin or expand your career in Facilities Management. OCS has an ambition to become an 'Employer of choice' in our sector and is proud to invest in our colleague's personal and professional development. OCS provides our colleagues with opportunities to gain qualifications through funded development programmes aligned to the knowledge, skills and behaviours attached to their roles.