Global Category Leader - Equipment CAPEX & Maintenance

Smith & Nephew; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a dynamic Global Category Leader to spearhead initiatives in the Capital Equipment & Equipment Maintenance category. This hybrid role offers the chance to lead sourcing projects, optimize demand management, and enhance supplier performance. With a focus on strategic supplier relationships and cost efficiency, you will play a critical role in executing strategic plans and ensuring collaboration across the organization. Join a company that values care, collaboration, and courage, and make a significant impact on their operational and manufacturing goals.

Benefits

Generous annual bonus

Pension schemes

Car allowance

Flexible vacation and time off

Private health and dental plans

Healthcare cash plans

Income protection

Life assurance

Discounts on gyms and fitness clubs

Salary sacrifice bicycle and car schemes

Qualifications

• Strong background in procurement with global category strategy experience.
• Expertise in Capital Equipment & Equipment Maintenance management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own category strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Manage supplier relationships and drive cost efficiency.

Skills

Category Management

Supplier Relationship Management

Cost Efficiency

Procurement Policies

Education

CIPS Qualification

Bachelor's Degree in Business

Job description

Life Unlimited

At Smith+Nephew, we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living.

This is a hybrid role that can be flexibly based from our Hull or Watford site with occasional travel to the other location as required.

We're looking for a dynamic Global Category Leader for our Capital Equipment & Equipment Maintenance (GCL CAPEX) Category to spearhead initiatives and drive excellence within this key category. In this influential position, you will own category strategy, oversee significant expenditure, and craft supplier and stakeholder engagement across a worldwide landscape. Expertise in category management will be essential, helping to deliver innovative solutions that align with our broader operational and manufacturing goals.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead sourcing projects end-to-end, optimise demand management, and champion supplier performance and innovation. You will play a critical part in defining specifications, improving vendor relationships, and ensuring the flawless execution of strategic plans. Reporting to the Global Category Director, you will be at the heart of a dynamic organisation that values care, collaboration, and courage.

What will you be doing?

1. Develop and own category strategies aligned with business objectives, securing stakeholder approval and ensuring clear communication.
2. Deliver cost efficiency by achieving CAPEX category savings targets and handling supplier, market, and internal business data.
3. Mitigate risks by identifying key supplier issues, ensuring performance concerns are addressed, and maintaining compliance with procurement policies.
4. Lead projects based on the CAPEX strategy, driving initiatives that feed into the Annual Procurement Category Plan.
5. Manage supplier relationships through segmentation, critical metric implementation, contract negotiations, and governance activities, including Executive and Quarterly Business Reviews.
6. Champion innovation by collaborating with strategic suppliers to drive the Smith+Nephew innovation agenda.
7. Supervise a small team, ensuring alignment with overall category strategy and maintaining clear stakeholder communication.

What will you need to be successful?

To excel in this role, you should have a strong background in procurement, with extensive experience leading category strategies on a global scale. Expertise in managing Capital Equipment & Equipment Maintenance is crucial. An understanding of MRO, Facilities, and Real Estate category management are advantageous, as these areas closely intersect with the role. A recognized professional qualification such as CIPS or an equivalent is highly preferred.

Success in this position will rely on your ability to develop strategic supplier relationships, drive cost efficiency, and lead sophisticated procurement initiatives while ensuring flawless collaboration with key stakeholders across the business.

You. Unlimited

We believe in creating the greatest good for society. Our strongest investments are in our people and the patients we serve.

• Inclusion, Diversity and Equity: Committed to welcoming, celebrating, and thriving on diversity. Learn more about Employee Inclusion Groups on our website (https://www.smith-nephew.com/).

• Your Future: Generous annual bonus and pension schemes, Save As You Earn share options, and a car allowance.

• Work/Life Balance: Flexible vacation and time off, paid holidays, and paid volunteering hours to give back to our communities.

• Your Wellbeing: Private health and dental plans, healthcare cash plans, income protection, life assurance, and more.

• Flexibility: Hybrid working model (for most professional roles).

• Training: Hands-on, team-customized mentorship.

• Extra Perks: Discounts on gyms and fitness clubs, salary sacrifice bicycle and car schemes, and many other employee discounts.

#LI-hybrid

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