Senior Category Manager

Bupa; Brighton; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Bupa is seeking a Senior Category Manager to lead procurement efforts across critical categories. This hybrid role, based in various UK locations, offers a competitive salary and superb benefits, including a management bonus and a generous pension scheme. The ideal candidate will have extensive procurement experience and strong stakeholder management skills, driving innovative solutions and compliance in procurement activities.

Benefits

25 days holiday increasing with service

Bupa health insurance

Enhanced pension plan

Onsite gym discounts

Various online discounts

Qualifications

• Proven experience in category management and procurement.
• Strong knowledge of third-party risk management.
• Experienced negotiator with a solid track record of delivering savings.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Category Managers and oversee significant budgets.
• Drive procurement strategy for critical category spend areas.
• Engage with stakeholders to maximize supply chain efficiencies.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Management

Negotiation

Communication

Team Leadership

Education

Graduate Degree (e.g. BA, BSc, MEng)

MCIPS or equivalent

Tools

Contract Management

Job description

Job Description:

Senior Category Manager

Hybrid working with up to 3 days per week working from home

Angel Court - London, Staines or Salford Quays - Manchester

Permanent

Salary £72K - £80K per annum

Fantastic benefits including 10% Management Bonus and generous pension 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.

How you’ll help us make health happen:

As our Senior Category Manager, you’ll utilise your wealth of procurement experience, agile working and stakeholder management to lead a team of Category Managers owning significant budgets.

You'll be there to support Bupa's procurement vision, driving the development and execution of the procurement strategy for high value, critical category spend areas ensuring management & compliance to Policies including the Third Party Supplier onboarding process.

You'll be working closely with the Accountable Executives, Business owners and stakeholders to ensure category strategy is delivered, providing significant value through the execution of the sourcing process to contract award.

The role requires the individual to lead supplier selection for their portfolio and to support their team, in line with the Category Management 6 step process. They will also qualify suppliers through the supplier onboarding process including but not limited to segmentation, due diligence & audit.

In addition, the job holder will:

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive category strategies which has a clear savings/opportunity pipeline annually. Support Category Managers with their portfolios.

• Establish category prioritises for the full portfolio of spend for both direct and team expenditure.

• Understand the strategic intent of the BGIUK (and other Market Units as required) and the Business Units within it to ensure that category plans, procurement initiatives and activities are aligned with organisational goals

• Provide expertise on the external market for the category area including market drivers, supplier profiling and market developments.

• Ensure the strategic sourcing activities are aligned and executed with business and/or global strategies at all times.

• Utilise strong knowledge of third party risk management required within the category and management of these risks in line with policy & procedures including but not limited to Segmentation & Due Diligence Process, DPIA & Audit processes as required.

• Work closely with Accountable Executives and Business Owners to bring awareness of risk and necessary management to mitigate Bupa's exposure tosupply chain risks within the categories under their management.

• Develop negotiation plans and lead contract negotiations on behalf of the organisation and in support of Category Managers.

• Deliver compliant contracts with relevant sign off and approvals throughout the sourcing process to supplier signature.

• Act as the Procurement expert for identified activities and projects within the relevant business area, attending Procurement forums and supplier governance meetings as required

• Act as an escalation point for Category Managers and where appropriate direct their activities with assistance from the Head of Procurement

• Work closely with the Supplier Relationship Management within relevant category area to ensure strategy alignment for planning of sourcing events, evaluation & contract signature/handover process are managed

• Develop innovative solutions by challenging the status quo and business requirements

• Bring innovation to the team and to the organisation and maximises total cost of ownership savings through continuous improvement initiatives

• Build string relationships within the business to ensure requirements are delivered, performance tracked and operational efficiencies are maximised

• Actively input into Bupa UK procurement strategy, governance and policy improvement plans

• Actively participate in Team and Department meetings and events and be responsible for communicating and advocating procurement throughout the organisation.

• Maintain personal integrity with regards to commercial confidentiality and conduct supplier relationships with the highest standard of ethical conduct.

• Manage a high performing and cost effective team of Category Managers with an emphasis on team development, resourcing, and colleague engagement.

Key Skills / Qualifications needed for this role:

• Graduate Degree (e.g. BA, BSc, MEng) or higher (e.g. MA)

• MCIPS or equivalent professional qualification (desirable)

• Experience of project management skills

• Category management experience and expertise in a related industry & spend groups.

• Proven evidence of sourcing similar products and services

• Proven ability and experience of delivering savings and Bupa required performance requirements 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

• Strong communications skills

• Comprehensive experience of working closely with interval stakeholders to ensure a successful commercial outcome

• Proficient at drafting contracts and familiar with contract law

• Strong people management skills

Benefits

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 is a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. This means we aim to offer an interview/assessment to every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the role. We’ll make sure you are treated fairly and offer reasonable adjustments as part of our recruitment process to anyone that needs them.

If you require information regarding this role in an alternative format, please email: [e-mail]

Time Type:

Full time

Job Area:

Finance & Accounting

Locations:

Angel Court, London, Bupa Place, Clinic & Dental - Bristol, Kirkstall Forge, Victory House, Brighton