Senior Procurement Category Manager - Operational Services

ZipRecruiter; Cirencester; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Procurement Lead to manage and optimise their procurement strategy for Operational Services. The role involves cost savings, supplier negotiations, and team development. Ideal candidates will have extensive procurement experience, a strong understanding of market trends, and excellent communication skills.

Qualifications

• Extensive procurement experience, particularly in Operational Services.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Proficient in RFP/RFI approaches.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement strategy and cost optimisation for Operational Services.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify needs and deliver sourcing solutions.
• Manage supplier contracts and ensure compliance with regulations.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Procurement Strategy

Cost Optimisation

Education

CIPS Qualification

Job description

Job Description

This job is with St. James's Place, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the + business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

The role:

This person will be responsible for leading and managing the procurement strategy for Operational Services within SJP. They will drive optimisation, reduce cost and maximise value through leading the sourcing and negotiations for Operational Services across SJP. They will work closely with internal stakeholders, supplier and senior management to drive efficiencies and align Operational Services' strategy with SJP's objectives.

What you'll be doing:

• Operational Services Development Lead the development, implementation, and execution of SJP's procurement strategy for Operational Services in line with SJP's objectives and risk appetite. In partnership with business stakeholders develop and maintain Operational Services' plans with defined supplier segmentation.
• Cost Optimisation & Savings Use market knowledge and experience to identify and deliver opportunities for cost savings and increased ROI. Develop and implement cost-control strategies across Operational Services. Use of benchmarking to regularly test price competitiveness.
• Team Development and Mentoring Support the development of Procurement team members, building a strong talent pool for succession planning.
• Stakeholder Engagement Collaborate across SJP directorates to identify procurement needs and provide strategic sourcing solutions.
• Sourcing & Negotiation Lead sourcing processes, including RFPs (and use of e-sourcing tools), development and execution of negotiation strategies and selection of suppliers. Drive competitive pricing and contract terms. Develop and maintain an accurate Deal Calendar on upcoming renewal to maximise cost reduction opportunities and ensure appropriate resource prioritisation.
• Risk Management Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and mitigate potential risks through proper supplier onboarding and contract management.
• Reporting & Analytics Feed into KPI reporting to monitor the effectiveness of procurement activities. Regularly report on procurement savings, negotiations and strategy outcomes to the Head of Procurement. Contribute to development of procurement / commercial datasets and tooling.

Who we're looking for:

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in procurement and in depth experience/knowledge specific to Operational Services. They will have a deep understanding of Operational Services, its utilisation at SJP, and market trends, emerging technologies and industry best practices. They will provide insights and recommendations to senior management and be proficient in RFP/RFI approaches, supplier evaluation, cost optimisation and negotiation techniques. They will drive the implementation of the supplier strategy for Operational Services at SJP whilst collaborating with other Procurement Managers. They will effectively manage one individual and partner with other procurement leads to develop cross-functional solutions to problems. They will demonstrate strong communication skills to build relationships and influence stakeholders across the business.

Essential Criteria

• Extensive experience in procurement and in depth knowledge/experience specific to Operational Services.
• Proven experience in negotiating and managing contracts.
• CIPS qualification.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Able to lead, develop and delegate to direct report.

Desirable Criteria

• Good understanding/knowledge of SJP business model.