Category Manager

Bupa UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Bupa health insurance

Enhanced pension plan

Life insurance

Onsite gyms or local discounts

Other benefits and online discounts

Job summary

Bupa UK in the UK is seeking a Category Manager to define, shape and deliver the category spend across equipment, consumables and pharmaceuticals. You will lead supplier selection, negotiate contracts and drive savings.

Based in London with hybrid working up to 4 days from home, you will influence procurement strategy and manage key suppliers. The role requires a Graduate Degree and MCIPS or equivalent, with extensive category management and stakeholder leadership.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree or higher requirement.
• MCIPS or equivalent professional qualification.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Category management experience in a related industry.
• Proven track record in sourcing similar products and services.
• Ability to deliver savings via strategic category planning.
• Senior-level negotiation skills with contract law knowledge.
• Experience working with stakeholders to secure commercial outcomes.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams across business units.

Responsibilities

• Identify and deliver multiple cost-saving initiatives to meet targets.
• Lead supplier selection, qualification and relationship management.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive category plan with savings pipeline.
• Set priorities based on benefits and business requirements.
• Align category plans with organisational goals and global strategies.
• Develop category risk plans to mitigate supply chain risks.
• Lead contract negotiations and develop negotiation plans.
• Ensure sourcing activities align with global strategies.
• Mentor and guide Category Specialists and cross-functional teams.
• Contribute to procurement strategy, governance and policy improvements.

Skills

Category management experience

Sourcing savings delivery

Negotiation at senior level

Contract drafting & law familiarity

Supplier relationship management

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Industry knowledge & legislation

Education

Graduate Degree (BA/BSc/MEng) or higher (MA)

Job description

Hybrid working with up to 4 days per week working from home

Angel Court – London, Brighton, Staines, Manchester or Leeds

Permanent

Salary £56,000 - £69,900 per annum

Fantastic benefits including healthcare, generous pension and 10% management bonus scheme

Full time 37.5 hours per week

We make health happen

Working in our UK support functions you’ll play a key part in helping our customer facing colleagues deliver exceptional standards of customer service and patient care. No matter your role, you’ll have an opportunity to do work that matters. Making a difference to the lives of our customers each and every day.

Due to continued growth within Bupa’s health services, we’re looking to appoint an experienced Category Manager who will help define, shape and deliver the category spend with a complex set of suppliers across equipment, consumables and pharmaceuticals.

How you’ll help us make health happen

The job holder will be accountable for identifying and delivering multiple cost saving initiatives in order to achieve individual and Department targets.

The role requires the individual to lead supplier selection and qualification and manage relationships with key suppliers using contemporary supplier relationship management techniques (including supplier development and measurement). In addition, the job holder will:

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive category plan which has a clear savings/opportunity pipeline.
• Establish category prioritises based on benefits and opportunities and business requirements
• Understand the strategic intent of Bupa UK and Group (and other Market Units as required) and the Business Units within it to ensure that Category plans and implementation are aligned with organisational goals
• Develop and manage a category risk plan in agreement with the Business to mitigate Bupa's exposure to supply chain risks within the categories under their management.
• Actively sets, leads and drives the timeline for sourcing initiatives
• Lead contract negotiations on behalf of the organisation and develop negotiation plans.
• Ensures the strategic sourcing activities are aligned with global strategies
• Act as an escalation point for Category Specialists and where appropriate directing their activities with assistance from the Head of Procurement.
• Develops innovative solutions by challenging the status quo and business requirements
• Develops and maintains a category plan for their respective area of spend responsibility
• Actively inputs into Bupa UK procurement strategy, governance and policy improvement plans
• Actively participates in Team and Department meetings and events and is responsible for communicating and advocating procurement throughout the organisation.

Key Skills / Qualifications needed for this role

• Graduate Degree (e.g. BA, BSc, MEng) or higher (e.g. MA)
• MCIPS or equivalent professional qualification
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Category management experience and expertise in a related industry
• Proven evidence of sourcing similar products and services
• Proven ability and experience of delivering savings through driving strategic category planning
• Experienced negotiator who is proficient at drawing upon and developing fact based negotiation plans and operating at a senior level Industry and marketplace experience relevant to this role including knowledge of relevant industry legislation
• Contract and supplier relationship management expertise
• Comprehensive experience of working closely with interval stakeholders to ensure a successful commercial outcome
• Proficient at drafting contracts and familiar with contract law
• Recent and relevant experience of leading cross functional/business unit teams.

Our benefits are designed to make health happen for our people. Viva is our global wellbeing programme and includes all aspects of our health – from mental and physical, to financial, social and environmental wellbeing. We support flexible working and have a range of family friendly benefits.

Joining Bupa in this role you will receive the following benefits and more:

• 25 days holiday, increasing through length of service, with option to buy or sell
• Bupa health insurance as a benefit in kind
• An enhanced pension plan and life insurance
• Onsite gyms or local discounts where no onsite gym available
• Various other benefits and online discounts

Why Bupa?

We’re a health insurer and provider. With no shareholders, our customers are our focus. Our people are all driven by the same purpose – helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. We make health happen by being brave, caring and responsible in everything we do.

We encourage all of our people to “Be you at Bupa”, we champion diversity, and we understand the importance of our people representing the communities and customers we serve. That’s why we especially encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Bupa takes pride in being a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and will aim to offer an interview/assessment to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum criteria for the role. We’re committed to ensuring you’re treated fairly during the recruitment process and offer reasonable adjustments to anyone who may benefit from accommodations to the recruitment process.