Category Manager

Ideal experiene would be within the fuel/petroleum/oil industry. Not negotiable experience includes strong analytical ability, data driven and strong people skills. 

 

 

Duties & Responsibilities:

Category strategy:

• Develop and implement procurement strategies for assigned category or categories to achieve cost savings, quality
• improvements, and supply chain efficiencies.

Benefits tracking:

• Create and maintain a value benefits pipeline for each category and track benefits achieved.

Supplier management:

• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, negotiate contracts, and ensure compliance.
• Monitor supplier performance, resolve issues, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to optimise
• procurement processes.

Cost management:

• Analyse costs, identify savings opportunities, and implement cost-effective procurement strategies.

Risk management:

• Assess and mitigate risks related to procurement activities, ensuring continuity of supply.

Stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration:

• Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand their requirements, provide procurement expertise, and ensure
• alignment with organisational goals.
• Actively work with divisional management and / or KAP senior category manager/s to support initiatives.

Change & transformation:

• Lead category-related initiatives, ensuring smooth adoption of new processes, tools, and ways of working.
• Support the Head of Procurement with driving change and enablement.

Procurement expertise:

• Stay updated with industry trends, regulations, and best practices in procurement to recommend and implement
• innovative sourcing strategies.

Skills

Technical skills:

• Analytical: Ability to analyse data and market trends to make informed decisions. Leveraging off ERP systems, analytical tools and procurement software.
• Financial skills: Intermediate and above numerical skills including a good understanding of finance and budget management
• Negotiation Skills: Strong negotiation abilities to secure favourable terms, conditions and prices from suppliers.
• Communication: Effective communication skills to interact with a variety of stakeholders and suppliers. Good command of the agreed business language
• Project & Change Management: Capability to manage projects and change in dynamic environments.
• Problem-Solving: Skill in resolving issues related to procurement, logistics, and supplier relationships.
• Strategic Business Partner: Service oriented mindset aligning business objectives with Procurement strategies.
• Business acumen: understand the organisations' purpose, strategy and the external landscape, and how the processes and systems help to generate value across the organisation value chain.
• Risk management: the ability to proactively identify, assess, respond to and review controls to address risk factors across the value chain.

Minimum requirements

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years in Procurement or Supply Chain management
• Proven track record of managing procurement categories.
• Experience in strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and contract negotiations at a senior level.
• Experience in managing complex, high risk projects and programs to improve performance and deliver service.
• Experience with digital procurement tools, e-sourcing, ERP systems, and analytics platforms.

Required Qualification:

• Relevant degree level or postgraduate business qualification.
• Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply (Diploma in Purchasing and/or equivalent)
• Category management within procurement
• Strong understanding of procurement methodologies, contract law, and vendor management

Behavioural skills:

• Leadership
• Detail-oriented
• Strategic thinker
• Adaptable
• Ethical
• Results-driven
• Innovative
• Persuasive
• Resilient
• Collaborative
• Strong communicator

Competencies

• Strong knowledge of Procurement and business transformation projects.
• Proven ability to work with, present to, and influence senior management.
• Ability to lead, inspire, and influence beyond reporting lines.
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and influential leadership capabilities.
• Team player and collaboration advocate.
• Excellent analytical and data-driven decision-making skills, including the ability to use data to drive improvements.
• Advanced knowledge of Procurement software and systems (e.g., P2P, e-auctions, contract management).
• In-depth knowledge of supply markets, trends, and best practices in Procurement.
• Strong knowledge of ESG, sustainability and ethical sourcing practices.

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