Global Category Manager

Description

This role is responsible for developing and implementing sourcing strategies, driving procurement transformation initiatives, and managing supplier and stakeholder relationships to ensure cost efficiency, compliance, and value creation across multiple categories within operations and fuel spend.

• Strategic Sourcing: Develop and execute sourcing strategies to optimise cost, enhance quality, and ensure sustainable supply.
• Align diverse business units around shared procurement strategies and global initiatives.
• Scale successful regional procurement programs to multinational and global levels.
• Supplier Management: Build and maintain supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and monitor supplier performance.
• Cost Management: Identify cost-saving opportunities and implement initiatives to realise them.
• Tender Management: Lead the end-to-end tendering process using available procurement tools.
• Maintain effective communication with senior management and provide regular updates on progress and performance.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with business needs and objectives.
• Provide strategic and tactical guidance on key categories based on market insights, industry best practices, and performance objectives.
• Drive value creation through strong collaboration with operational teams.
• Work with cross-functional teams to identify, quantify, and capture regional and national opportunities, including alternative revenue streams.
• Support the establishment of benchmarks, KPIs, and performance objectives.
• Deliver procurement synergies through standardisation, vendor consolidation, and optimisation of business models and technologies.
• Negotiate large-scale, complex global supply contracts for goods and services.
• Procurement Transformation: Collaborate with business process outsourcing (BPO) partners and Centres of Excellence to support global transformation activities.
• Contract Compliance: Ensure all contracts are current, accurate, and properly maintained in the contract lifecycle management (CLM) system.
• Risk Management: Proactively assess and mitigate supply chain risks.

Requirements

• Degree in Business Administration, Procurement, or Supply Chain preferred.
• Self-motivated, resilient, and execution-focused.
• Retail industry or facilities management experience is highly advantageous.
• Exceptional communication skills (oral and written).
• Ability to establish and nurture both internal and external partnerships.
• 5–10 years of procurement, commercial, and contract management experience across relevant categories.
• Skilled at balancing competing priorities and managing multiple projects.
• Instore equipment (e.g., coolers, refrigeration units, coffee machines)
• Strong commercial and operational acumen.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and procurement systems such as Ariba or similar platforms.
• Excellent analytical, influencing, and leadership skills.
• Influence stakeholders with confident communication and negotiation skills.
• Flexibility to work non-traditional hours across global time zones.
• Proven track record of unlocking commercial value.
• Demonstrated experience in global procurement and contract negotiation.

Benefits

Competitive salary, plus bonus

• Janitorial supplies

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance