Group Category Manager

High Wycombe,
UK
Type: Permanent

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This is a leadership role reporting directly to the Group Category Lead for Capex, responsible for supporting the transformation of the Company’s procurement processes and procedures, driving efficiency, compliance, and cost savings across the organisation. Group Category Manager – Direct is a member of the Group Procurement Team and has accountabilities for sub-categories of spend within Direct Categories; Capital Equipment, Cross Hire, MRO and Fleet Infrastructure Categories. The role holder will be expected to provide deep domain and market insights knowledge related specifically to the above categories and have a proven track record P&L impacting savings and of building and maintaining senior stakeholder relationships within a diverse organizational ecosystem.

EMG/Gravity delivers an unparalleled range of media services and solutions to clients worldwide: 30 offices, more than 100 outside broadcast trucks and flypacks and 40 studios across the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, the United States and Australia, offering market-leading broadcast, technology, production, and post-production solutions across many of the world’s most-watched live events and entertainment programmes and working with the world’s most renowned sports rights holders, production houses and broadcasters.

 

The group’s acknowledged broadcast technology and production partnerships across major sports including UEFA EUROs, Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, Champions League and Premiership football, Formula E, the Bathurst 1000, the ATP Tour, Australian Open, US Open and French Open, Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Tour Down Under, NBC Sports and College Sports across the US, the World Aquatics Championships, the Melbourne Cup, the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

 

The Role

 

This is a leadership role reporting directly to the Group Category Lead for Capex, responsible for supporting the transformation of the Company’s procurement processes and procedures, driving efficiency, compliance, and cost savings across the organisation.

 

Group Category Manager – Direct is a member of the Group Procurement Team and has accountabilities for sub-categories of spend within Direct Categories; Capital Equipment, Cross Hire, MRO and Fleet Infrastructure Categories. The role holder will be expected to provide deep domain and market insights knowledge related specifically to the above categories and have a proven track record P&L impacting savings and of building and maintaining senior stakeholder relationships within a diverse organizational ecosystem.

 

Due to ongoing system and organisational transformation programmes, which may include changes in global procure-to-pay (P2P) processes, systems and governance, the role holder will need to understand the dynamics between operating an efficient Source-to-Contract (S2C) processes, whilst delivering value to the organisation. The role holder shall be expected to be an experienced Sourcing and Procurement professional who is able to navigate ambiguity, set clear direction and deliver to challenging timescales and objectives.

 

Lead responsibilities

  • Support the Director of Procurement and Group Procurement team with the development of a global procurement transformation strategy, aligned with the organisation’s goals and objectives.
  • Develop and drive a pattern of appropriate group-wide initiatives, across the sub-categories within the portfolio of Direct (Capex) spend, to ensure achievement of cost savings targets across the organisation, advise on appropriate methods and strategies for cost reduction, cost avoidance, cost containment programmes (as needed).
  • Support ongoing development and improvement of procurement policies, procedures, and workflows to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards, advise on the revision of procurement practices to ensure their conformance with established laws
  • Communicate procurement policies, procedures, and guidelines to stakeholders, providing guidance and support as needed to ensure compliance and adherence.
  • Strategic Planning – development of long term, sustainable strategic category plans for the entire spend within a business unit, region or globally. Ensure alignment between Group category team strategy and local Country requirements
  • Oversee implementation of sub-category sourcing plans – ensure that the underpinning process improvement and procurement activities deliver the expected business value in accordance with the strategic plans, global processes, systems and governance
  • Engage with key business stakeholders across the organisation to gain approval and support for the Group Capex Category plan, including annual budget cycles and devolved procurement savings targets that need to be embedded in Country P&L’s (as needed)
  • Track performance and reporting across the Procurement function using the assigned systems and processes (knowledge of PerAngusta would be an advantage), develop key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the effectiveness of procurement processes and initiatives
  • Develop, review, negotiate and execute complex business agreements and contracts. Apply extensive knowledge of contract and purchase orders to resolve differences with suppliers and advise on appropriate procurement strategies and tactics for negotiations. Negotiate favourable terms and agreements with suppliers, driving cost savings, quality improvement, and risk mitigation
  • Advise on the development of the appropriate sourcing approach based on the analysis of historic and forecasted spend data, supply market information and business stakeholder requirements. (previous experience of using Rosslyn Analytics system would be an advantage)
  • Ensure ESG forms an integral part of the procurement decision making process
  • Establish new relationships with key suppliers and manages relationships with existing key suppliers; set up cross functional review meetings with key suppliers and stakeholders to improve performance/process inefficiencies and reduce costs
  • Monitor supplier performance and adherence to contract requirements, implementing corrective actions as necessary to maintain service levels and quality standards. Analyse and resolve issues raised in procurement audit reports.
  • Resolve quality problems with suppliers and user departments and develop measurements for improvement and target setting; advise on appropriate approach to supplier inquiries, protests and appeals and respond to any escalated issues

 

Requirements

  • 5yrs+ experience in Direct Materials procurement roles, with a proven track record of success in establishing and optimizing procurement processes and procedures.
  • Strong knowledge of procurement best practices, contract management principles, and sourcing strategies, (experience of the media industry would be an advantage)
  • Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external Stakeholders, Suppliers and Clients.
  • Ability to manage change effectively; uses straightforward and constructive arguments to gain buy-in from others and deliver results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
  • High level of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct, with a commitment to upholding the highest standards
  • Structured and highly organised approach to duties, ability to balance competing priorities to ensure agreed commitments are met
  • Must be willing to travel as needed

This job description details the key elements of the role and is not an exhaustive list of all duties. Job roles evolve over time and job holders may be required to complete additional tasks in line with business needs.

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