Category Manager

Who we're looking for

Are you a strategic thinker who's passionate about optimising procurement and supply chain operations? Blueleaf, a leading care sector supplier, seeks a dynamic Category Manager. This full time role involves aligning our procurement strategy to maximise profit, cash flow and efficiency. You will develop strong supplier relationships, leverage opportunities and support the procurement activities across our two locations based in Yorkshire and Sussex.

If you have a proven track record in procurement and supply chain management, we want to hear from you!

We are looking for a Category Manager to join an enthusiastic team of dedicated category professionals reporting into the Head of Procurement & Supply Chain. You will enjoy working autonomously and have proven experience of managing a wide range of direct and Indirect spend in a fast-paced private healthcare business.

About Blueleaf

We're in the business of caring, compassionate care for every future. We set out to help the care sector deliver the best possible care in an evolving world. This takes a truly people orientated approach, and we're not only helping solve the problems of today, but we're leading real change in the care home sector, steering it in the direction necessary to meet the demands of the future. By creating bespoke solutions that deliver on the vision of our clients, we transform business goals into sustainable success through strategic leadership, innovation and unrivalled convenience.

Blueleaf is an equal opportunities employer.

Your day to day primary responsibilities

Manage product portfolio:

• Develop appropriate supply chain strategy across a range of category areas.
• Develops & manage 'good, better, best' positioning within the product range.
• Recommends the nature and scope of present and future product lines by reviewing product specifications and requirements, appraising new product ideas and/or product or packaging changes.
• Establishes product market share by working with Sales & Marketing teams to develop product sales strategies.
• Assesses product market data on customers working with field salespeople and evaluating sales.
• Identify category cost structure / drivers, working capital impacts & potential margin improvement opportunities.
• Uses demand forecasting to optimise supply, customer service & working capital.
• Prioritise the product rationalisation, working with the Supply Chain team on ensuring supplier MOQ and MOV's are easily achievable within reasonable planning parameters.
• Collaborating with the team to ensure supplier strategy supports delivery of a market leading product range in the marketplace.
• Be highly focused, results driven with demonstratable experience of managing change, process improvement and achieving organisational profitability.
• Supporting Procurement activities to increase profit, cashflow and overall efficiency and productivity.
• Provides information for management by preparing short-term and long-term product sales forecasts and bespoke reports and analysis.
• Manages product lifecycle plans & product retirement activities including sell-off of slow-moving or obsolete Inventory.
• Understand relevant legal & regulatory frameworks and is comfortable drafting contractual documentation.
• Acts as primary contact in case of product-related crisis management / product recall activity.
• Maintains all product related data (specifications, MSDS, COSHH, packaging, images, product descriptions & benefit statements etc) that drives both internal and customer-facing systems.
• Ensures all product packaging and support materials are in line with company brand guidelines.
• Collaborates with relevant stakeholders to ensure all functions have appropriate levels of product knowledge. Where relevant, encourage & support development of 'product experts' within teams.
• Ownership of the procurement processes, policies, controls.
• Lead procurement activities, including pre-qualification, negotiating supplier agreements, and closing deals with optimal terms.
• Develops internal relationships, influencing key internal customers to promote professional procurement principals across the business ensuring timely communication and problem resolution.
• Define, develop, and provide regular reporting as required Including KPI's for procurement to the Head of Procurement & Supply Chain.
• Constantly review and suggest improvements to processes to bring efficiencies/cost savings to the procurement team.
• Manage and maintain compliance to company quality systems and all appropriate regulatory bodies.
• Progress and achieve set objectives as defined by the Head of Procurement & Supply Chain on a yearly basis.
• Meeting company standards pertaining to quantity and quality of work performed on an ongoing basis, performing all work-related tasks in a manner that is in compliance with all company policies and procedures.
• Adhering to company policies, procedures, and directives regarding standards of workplace behaviour in completing job duties and assignments.
• Ensure that all relevant supplier details and product price information is accurately maintained on the appropriate system to enable effective investment opportunities to be attained.
• Ensure commodity classifications are accurately maintained.
• Support the procurement strategy to meet the business needs at the lowest possible cost.
• Support the procurement team in executing best practices and measuring performance through agreed upon KPI's.
• Plan, manage, and coordinate all activities related to the specified categories and procurement of necessary products needed to meet the changing levels of client demand.
• Utilises business systems, ERP etc. (Netsuite, Netstock, etc.).
• Forecast price and market trends.
• Support development of supplier base, which is resilient, helps to sustain a competitive advantage and develop and maintain a supplier relationship and evaluation process to measure effective supplier performance and compliance.

Skills, Experience and Qualities

• A Degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Management.
• A Fellow or Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS).
• Relevant strong procurement experience.
• Commercially and financially astute with experience of managing budgets and a proven track record of delivering results against project deadlines.
• Relevant experience at category manager level, with the ability to engage, negotiate and manage key stakeholders and suppliers.
• Competent with Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstratable experience in managing strategic supplier relationships and cost reductions.
• Self motivated and able to plan workload and able to work well under pressure.
• Excellent communicator, with advanced influencing and negotiation skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to prioritise and manage complex and varied workload.
• Analytical, commercial awareness, attention to detail, problem-solving and decision making skills.

What will we offer?

We will offer a competitive salary. You will be eligible for a discretionary bonus scheme and a number of welfare benefits, such as; auto-enrolment into our pension scheme, access to our Medicash scheme that provides cash back towards everyday healthcare bills and a wide range of other wellbeing benefits.

Location

This role can be located at our Castleford office based in West Yorkshire.

Next Steps

Apply now!

By applying for this role you give us consent to process your personal data for recruitment purposes only. A copy of our data privacy notice is available on the following link. Blueleaf Limited - Data Privacy Notice