Procurement Category Manager

We're looking for an experienced Procurement Category Manager to join our Kitchens team.

You'll be responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with key suppliers as well as constantly looking for potential areas of continuous improvement and cost optimisation.

The role will involve identifying, selecting, and managing suppliers to ensure they meet the organisation's needs in terms of quality, cost, delivery, and service.

As Procurement Category Manager you'll have the ability to work collaboratively across a wide array of internal and external stakeholders in order to deliver optimal results.

There will be some travel in Europe and the UK within the role.

1. Sourcing and Supplier Management:
   1. Identifying and evaluating potential suppliers based on quality, price, reliability, and capacity.
   2. Developing and maintaining strong relationships with key suppliers.
   3. Monitoring supplier performance and addressing any issues or concerns and conducting supplier reviews.
2. Contract Management:
   1. Negotiating and managing supplier contracts and agreements, ensuring contract compliance and adherence to terms and conditions.
   2. Monitoring contract renewals and renegotiations.
3. Continuous Improvement and Cost Optimisation:
   1. Identifying opportunities for cost savings through strategic sourcing and negotiation.
   2. Collaborating with suppliers to implement process improvements.
   3. Driving innovation and collaboration with suppliers.
4. Supplier Onboarding and Offboarding:
   1. Managing the supplier onboarding process, including due diligence and qualification.
   2. Overseeing the supplier offboarding process, ensuring a smooth transition.
5. Procurement Process:
   1. Managing the entire procurement cycle, from requisition to delivery and payment.
   2. Full understanding of end to end logistics to ensure that all manufacturing and shipping efficiencies are optimised.
6. Compliance and Risk Management:
   1. Identifying and assessing potential risks associated with suppliers and developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies and adhering to ethical sourcing practices.
   2. Ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards.
   3. Identifying and mitigating potential risks associated with procurement activities.
7. Collaboration and Communication:
   1. Working closely with internal stakeholders, commercial, supply chain, finance, operations, and legal teams as well as external suppliers.

A Procurement Specialist with demonstrable experience in a similar role. You'll ideally have experience within the kitchens sector or a very similar category. As well as the technical skills required to undertake the role you'll have excellent communication, time management and organisational skills with strong understanding of financial principles and budgeting. Ideally the successful candidate will be educated to degree level with a relevant professional qualification.

You'll be supported with fantastic learning and development and have the opportunity to grow and develop your career with us.

We'll also equip you with a benefits package that includes:

• Competitive bonus
• Save-as-you-earn scheme
• Private Medical and Life Assurance
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme
• Colleague discount
• Discount platform including savings and cash back at numerous retailers, savings on gym membership, cycle to work scheme

Our widely recognised wellbeing strategy is something we're proud of at Wickes. As part of this, we offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits and support, including an Employee Assistance Programme, financial education & loans, and access to parental, menopause and fertility support.

You'll work from our Support Centre in Watford, where our Commercial team are based, along with our other support functions. We recognise the value of bringing our teams together to collaborate, support each other and build on our amazing culture. We are also encouraging our teams to work flexibly, with a blend of remote / office working.

Wickes is a multi-channel retailer operating in the home improvement market. With 50 years in industry, Wickes now generates revenue in excess of £1.6bn across 230 stores delivered by 8,000+ colleagues.

But it is the Wickes' culture that is considered its best kept secret; it's a collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive environment where people feel part of a winning team. All our colleagues come from different backgrounds, but what we all have in common is a determination to succeed and a passion for being the best we can be. If that sounds like you, we'll make you feel right at home.

Please contact us here if you require any adjustments within the application process. If you require any reasonable adjustments at the interview stage you will have an opportunity to inform us when we invite you to interview. Please note, this link is only for reasonable adjustments required - general enquiries, or direct CV applications cannot be accepted via this form.