Senior Category Manager

Base location: Reading with the option of hybrid working 2/3 days per week

Salary: £50k to £75k depending on experience + performance related bonus + a range of other benefits to support your family, finances, and wellbeing.

Working Pattern: Permanent Full time with the option of hybrid working

The Commercial and Procurement Team embarked on a journey to mature over the last few years which has seen their profile and influence within the business grow significantly. The team now need to move to the next level, extending beyond the traditional expectations of their function to become best in class commercial business partners. To support this vision, Neos is looking for a driven and creative Senior Category Manager who can assess complex challenges from which they can distil out, own and drive through strategies which deliver significant value add across the business.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Procurement the Senior Category Manager is a highly visible role which will develop and drive the Procurement strategy for key product and services categories of spend across Neos. You will also play an active role in reshaping our Procurement department from the ground up.

Coverage will include development of the Procurement and category strategy for areas of spend, such as Indirect, Connectivity, Civils and Network hardware, software and services and other new services or product spend areas where the business may require support.

This Senior Category Manager role will join a developing function and as an experienced member of the Procurement team, this individual will be expected to provide into and support Procurement strategic decision making and coaching of team members across the function.

Responsibilities/Accountabilities

The role entails working as part of the Procurement Team to support the evolution of the procurement strategy and transformation roadmap and ensuring this is this reflected across all the specific categories of spend within this remit:

• Acting as a business partner to various departments depending on specific categories in scope, their Directors and heads of department in these categories, understanding business strategy and providing creative challenge and thought leadership which influences and supports business decision making.

• Working up stream to anticipate procurement challenges, ensuring those departments are equipped with the right sourcing strategies to deliver the best possible commercial outcomes, ensuring clarity around areas such as risks, routes to market, resource commitments, supply market dynamics, competitive strategies and delivery plans.

• Developing and maintaining clear and current category plans for all spend areas under their influence, aligned to the business objectives, which identify a pipeline of procurement opportunities.

• Using internal and external technology category data, relationships and insight to formulate a clear point of view on business investment decisions (e.g. supply market reviews, business case assessments etc.), stimulate creative conversations and encourage innovative thinking within the business.

• Leading the delivery of a breadth of procurement initiatives, on occasion highly complex and high value, using best in class sourcing solutions such as e-Procurement, e-auctioning, strategic sourcing etc.

• Leading on behalf of Neos in high-value, complex commercial and contractual negotiations, working with stakeholders, Finance and Legal to close negotiations with contracts which fully protect Neos`s commercial and operational risks and interests.

• Leading category Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activity to ensure strategic supplier management is considered in all purchase decisions, addressing in life challenges with incumbent suppliers and ultimately delivering competitive advantage to Neos through these relationships.

• Ensuring compliance with corporate product, procedural, regulatory, quality, environmental and corporate social responsibility policies.

As part of the wider Procurement team:

• Provide input into the Procurement team objectives to support the delivery of the Company`s key priorities and Plan.

• Participation in the creation, evolution and implementation of the Procurement strategy, demonstrate exemplary category leadership within the function to help articulate what is expected for all members of the team.

• Shows personal accountability and interest in developing the teams and individuals across the function, participating and supporting Neos as a great place to work.

• Active participation and support of colleagues on Procurement or business wide initiatives e.g. initiatives led by Procurement or commercial in ensuring the Procurement team are open advocates and facilitators of the initiatives.

What do I need?

Must be able to demonstrate:

• Extensive experience in procurement in a range of focused categories, with previous Telco experience an advantage.

• Deep understanding of Procurement basics - contract law, category management, negotiation, market dynamics, commercial strategy, strategic sourcing.

• Ability to translate business needs into legal and commercial requirements based on customer centric business partnering.

• Production of high-quality work products including Contracts, Financial Analysis, RFP’s etc. that are fit for purpose in the category being supported and that ensure on time delivery.

• Liaising with senior stakeholders

• Leadership experience of developing complex, category, budget and supplier strategies.

• Significant experience of running substantive end to end Procurement projects.

• Excellent leadership skills, either directly or cross functionally and able to coach and support teams and team members alike.

• Exceptional engagement and relationship building abilities. Naturally accessible. Ability to communicate complex challenges in simple terms.

• Strategically minded and creative, able to translate a vision into clear methodical plans.

• Excellent problem solving and ability and knowledge to design, recommend and implement “best fit” sourcing strategies from multiple available options.

Next Steps

All applications should be submitted online, and I'll be back in touch to let you know the outcome. Should you need any further assistance please contact careers@neosnetworks.com