Role Overview
We are currently recruiting for a Category Manager - IT (Procurement) to join our passionate and driven team.
Reporting to the Head of Indirect Procurement, the Category Manager – IT role is a strategic role with primary responsibility for managing the IT Procurement category for OCS UK & Ireland. Working closely with key internal stakeholders, both Group and UK&I, the Category Manager will be expected to create and execute a category plan to maximise value.
Benefits
1. Informal hybrid/flexible working arrangements
2. 25 days holiday + bank holidays
3. Free fruit in our offices
4. Employee Referral Scheme (if you refer a successful candidate to one of our vacancies)
5. Wide range of retail discounts
6. Regular social and charity events are held in our offices
7. Get involved in charity events in the local community
Wellbeing
8. Discounted gym membership
9. Eye test £25 voucher and up to £100 towards glasses
10. Join our Cycle to Work scheme via salary sacrifice
11. Access to “CHROMA”, our internal colleague-led diversity and inclusion community – join a committee or take part in our D&I initiatives and events
12. Access to internal Mental Health First Aiders
Career development and recognition
13. Immediate access to “Opportunity” our internal Learning and Development platform
14. Required professional membership fees paid for
15. Opportunity to win monthly OCS Superstar Awards
16. Long service awards
Key Responsibilities:
Functional
17. Create and execute a category management plan to reduce total cost, improve quality of supply and mitigate risk within the supply chain.
18. Responsibility for all IT Procurement related spend.
19. Deliver the annual savings plan, and ensure any procurement revenue is invoiced and collected on time – ensuring zero aged debt.
20. Responsible for negotiating and delivering procurement synergy targets on M&A activity for services within IT
21. Procurement. This currently includes the 2022 acquisition of Incentive FM and the merger of Atalian Servest and OCS which completed in 2023.
22. Leading IT Procurement contract renewal tracking, and processing.
23. Regular supplier engagement and management; building strategic, value adding relationships and driving performance through data driven management and relationship building.
24. Managing and running end-to-end sourcing activities, with support from the Head of Indirect Procurement for high risk/value opportunities.
25. Identifying, evaluating, negotiating, and contracting with new suppliers.
26. Being a trusted commercial partner, working with key stakeholders to support the category plan.
27. Regular benchmarking of current inputs, services and suppliers to ensure our supply chain is delivering maximum value and innovation.
28. Lead initiatives, including rationalisation, to increase spend compliance and concentration with preferred suppliers, delivering improved efficiencies and driving category maturity.
29. Being a business partner to all relevant sectors and business units, promoting the Procurement department at all times and providing internal customer focus to support the organisation.
30. Work with internal stakeholders to ensure that quality, service and client requirements are considered and applied when negotiating commercial value.
31. 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.
32. Delivering cost reduction through procurement activities as well as mitigating inflation to improve EBITDA performance.
33. Supporting transformation within the Procurement team and implementing change management throughout the organisation.
34. Provide market and supplier insight, expertise and knowhow to the organisation through regular reporting.
35. Monitor compliance with ethical practices and standards that apply to supply chains, taking appropriate actions in the event of detecting any breaches by colleagues or other stakeholders.
36. Support the roles and functions of internal partners in areas such as compliance, audit, legal etc and encourage their support in establishing ethical behaviours and cultures.
37. Manage internal and external stakeholders and communicate standards and identify and eliminate bribery, corruption and fraud in supply chains and take appropriate actions in the event of any alleged breaches of standards.
38. Manage internal and external stakeholders and communicate CSR and sustainability standards (ISO14000; ISO26000; ISO20400) identifying any alleged breach of standards and taking appropriate actions.
39. Manage internal and external stakeholders and communicate Modern Slavery standards e.g. UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 or equivalent international standard, identifying any alleged breach of standards and taking appropriate actions.
40. Comply with the CIPS Code of Conduct by enhancing and protecting the standard of the profession, maintain the highest
41. standard of integrity and professionalism in all business relationships, promoting the eradication of unethical business relationships, enhancing the proficiency and stature of the profession, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
42. Monitor the work of stakeholders to ensure that the codes of ethics in procurement and supply are upheld and to escalate to senior management any suspected breach.
43. Comply with ethical practices when sourcing goods or services for the UK and Ireland business.
General
44. Avoid conflict of interests between personal interests and the interests of the UK & Ireland group.
45. Exercise independent judgment, reasonable care, skill and diligence when carrying out their duties.
46. Act in good faith and promote the long-term success of each company within the UK & Ireland group for the benefit of all members and wider stakeholders.
47. Adhere to and promote the UK & Ireland group’s policies on equality & diversity, information security, health and safety
48. and data protection in the performance of their duties and the management of the departmental functions reporting into them.
49. Support and promote the UK & Ireland group’s sustainability plans and policies, including the Carbon Management Plan,
50. and carry out duties in a resource effective way, recognising the shared responsibility of minimising negative environmental impacts wherever possible.
About You:
51. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK
52. Flexible regarding location, but London preferably.
53. IT Procurement experience is essential, as is senior stakeholder management.
Necessary
54. Previous experience within the FM industry within a Procurement role.
55. Clear understanding and experience in procuring goods and services across multiple sites.
56. Category management experience.
57. Results driven with exceptional negotiation skills.
58. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
59. Commercially focused with a proven track record of cost reduction.
60. Demonstrable knowledge of owning supplier management and performance measurement.
61. Strong project management skills including cross-functional team management.
62. A strong negotiator who understands TCO and utilising SRM to achieve best value.
63. Ability to build sustainable and productive relationships with suppliers.
Desirable
64. CIPS qualification.
Core Expectations
65. Show flexibility in working arrangements to ensure that a high level of service is delivered.
66. Self-motivated and able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
67. Have a positive, professional, and focused attitude when dealing with all colleagues.
68. Be able to take personal responsibility.
69. Have a flexible and positive attitude towards work.
70. Be keen to continuously improve own learning and development.
71. Support and embed the UK & Ireland group’s corporate values.
72. Can-do attitude and promotion of supportive culture.
73. Problem solving and ownership of issues.
74. Relentless focus on health and safety standards.