Reports to VP Procurement and has regular interaction with country procurement, Global Indirect Category procurement, finance, operations, CSR/ESG team & support functions. External relationships with suppliers.

The Category Manager develops category strategies for regional and local categories, including sourcing strategy definition, deployment, value engineering and stakeholder management. The Category Manager supports the implementation of Category Strategies outside of the USA & Canada, to maximise total cost of ownership savings and procurement value contribution. He/she is the resident expert for strategic procurement in the specific category, sharing and facilitating best practices, working closely with the local businesses and the Global Indirect Category procurement team.

Responsibilities:

• Takes strategic and long term view of category, identifies and develops innovative sources and contractual arrangements

• Develops category strategies and initiatives, including value engineering

• Provides analysis and support in relation to the setting of category spend baseline and category profile, including risk assessment

• Aligns category strategy with local businesses and their financial plans

• Supports VP Procurement for the IBG in the definition of a priority list of categories suitable for strategic sourcing initiatives, aligned with the countries & Global Indirect Category procurement

• Records and reports value delivery of conducted sourcing projects

• Participates in internal and external analysis (industry and supplier) in collaboration with in-country procurement Managers as a member of a cross functional sourcing team

• Aligns global, regional and local category activities

• Supports supplier selection and provide recommendations to VP Procurement for final decision

• Supports fact based negotiations with suppliers

• Obtains stakeholder and leadership team approvals as required eg SCP & Delegation of Authority

• Ensures that governance processes are followed eg SCP, Delegation of Authority, Code of Conduct

• Ensures that category specific operational processes and policies are in place and a compliant usage

• Proactively organises sessions with internal customers to identify further Total Cost of Ownership reduction and value engineering opportunities for regional categories

• Supports the delivery of value engineering projects in countries

• Establishes measures and controls for countries to ensure and track successful implementation in alignment with KPIs

• Supports alignment of negotiation timing and contract durations between countries to enable Best Practice Sharing and supplier leverage

• Actively engages in local key initiatives (aggregate demand, construct bid packages, value engineering projects and support sourcing through suppliers around the region) especially negotiations to ensure value levers are effectively played   

• Works in close collaboration with in-country procurement Managers in order to ensure local acceptance of new contracts, and extended value generation to increase customer satisfaction

• Coordinates contract implementation tasks with in-country procurement Managers and users

• Closely monitors internal customers contract compliance; defines and takes approved corrective actions to improve contract compliance

• Secures knowledge transfer and exchange by creating and storing project deliverables and relevant tools and templates in knowledge repositories      

• In line with defined procurement strategy, supports the classification and categorisation of suppliers, including definition of supplier evaluation and audit policies

• Continuously tracks supplier performance, according to defined framework

• Supports supplier development activities; sets up cross functional review meetings with suppliers in order to improve performance and further reduce cost

• Proactively organises work with suppliers under the guidance of VP Procurement to identify further value delivery projects

• Initiates and conducts supplier audits according to defined framework under the guidance of VP Procurement

• Continuously identifies potential contract improvement opportunities and re-negotiations              

• Sources major unplanned ad hoc demands to keep control over high spend utilising deep sourcing and/or category expertise

Education and work experience:

• Appropriate University/bachelor degree qualification is essential. A recognised qualification in procurement would be considered an asset.

• Extensive knowledge of spend area at hand is preferred, with substantial professional experience in the same functional domain or other related positions.

• This role will require regular travel across markets within AHEurope as well as supplier visits.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Insightful Analysis: Spend & Demand Analysis, Specification Analysis, Supply Market & Competitor Analysis, Value Chain & Total Cost Analysis

• Game Changing Strategies: Value Identification, Risk Management & Commodity, Modelling, Sustainability, Strategy Development

• Relentless Execution: Value Engineering, Tendering, Negotiation

  Contracting / Legal Ability

• Operations Excellence: Value Pipeline Management

  Supplier Management, Category & Supply Chain Expertise, Reporting & Procurement Controlling, Procurement Applications & MDM

• Ability to convey ideas and thoughts in a clear and convincing way.

• Ability to effectively apply project management toolkit and manage themselves or other resources.

• Ability to build internal long term relationship and engage with stakeholders.

What Cencora offers

We offer a competitive annual bonus, life insurance from Day 1, a best-in-class health insurance package, and up to 6 fully paid benefit days a year. As a Cencora employee, you have the benefit of our referral bonus scheme, our boundless learning opportunities and our global Employee Assistance Program. We have a wonderful office location in Quadrum, equipped with everything you need for a small break at work and fresh snacks at all times. Become part of our purpose-driven, multicultural team now and help us create healthier futures

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