JOB PURPOSE
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The Category Manager will assist the Senior Category Manager and the Head of Procurement to ensure the successful implementation and delivery of a compliant, consistent and professional procurement service within EA. The Category Manager will be responsible for the effective delivery of fit for purpose contracts that maximise value throughout the commercial lifecycle of contracts. They will assist the Senior Category Manager in developing and implementing category management strategies to achieve the aims and objectives of EA, delivering value for money and supply chain improvement, embedding efficient and effective procurement processes that ensure procurement compliance across EA and provide a customer focussed Commercial and Procurement Service whilst providing professional procurement advice and support in line with the Procurement Legislation including the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contract Regulations (2015), Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy (NIPPP) and Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs).
PRINICIPAL DUTIES OF THE POST:
1.1. Management of a Procurement Category to deliver effective category management strategies based upon business needs and emerging trends and manage contract reviews ensuring contract performance is managed in line with KPIs and customer requirements.
1.2. Manage and develop an effective category management team to ensure competent and sustainable procurement resources are available to meet the needs of EA
1.3. Develop category level intelligent customer networks (stakeholder experts who will be utilised to provide advice and guidance to procurements) and manage ongoing relationships with EA Departments and wider EA customers.
1.4. Manage strategic supplier relationship management to identify performance improvements.
1.5. Work with other CoPEs to develop collaborative strategies for category.
1.6. Developing contract management and supplier relationship management strategies as integral aspects of procurement activity.
1.7. Proactively engage in pre-market engagement and regular market sounding to establish feasibility, capacity, capability and encourage innovation.
1.8. Build working relationships with procurement professionals from other CoPEs and continually benchmark and regularly examine best practice to ensure EA are leading in category level innovative procurement.
1.9. Apply appropriate risk management methodologies and provide support for reporting staff fin high value/high risk contracts.
1.10. Develop an understanding of the of category expenditure, policy, regulatory, legislative or supply and demand issues.
1.11. Ensure all procurement activity within category is conducted in line with EA QMS and complies with Procurement Legislation including Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contract Regulations (2015) and Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs).
1.12. Provide accurate, professional and expert advice and guidance across the EA on all procurement related matters.
1.13. Manage the category team to ensure that all tenders and contracts are awarded on time and are effectively managed to deliver maximum benefit to EA.
1.14. Plan, lead and manage the workload within the sub-category specific procurement pipeline, linking into the wider category and EA procurement pipelines and achievement of deadlines for contract implementation.
1.15. Promote an efficiency culture within EA Procurement that critically analyses and challenge existing practices, be innovative in proposing and leading initiatives that result in service enhancement.
1.16. Ensure mandatory use of e-tendering system and the quality management system for all tender processes and contract management.
1.17. Where opportunities for collaboration exist, proactively work in conjunction with CPD and other CoPEs to drive the efficiency agenda.
1.18. Provide regular management information and analysis on contracts and supplier performance.
1.19. Analyse requests for DACs and provide advice to Senior Category Manager and/or the Procurement Compliance Manager and/or the Head of Procurement.