Category Manager - Soft FM

Soft FM Category Manager
Flexible - Attached to Hook/London/Solihull
Full Time, Permanent

Here at Serco, we are seeking an experienced Soft FM Category Manager to provide category and market expertise and support to effectively manage Serco's spend and supply base for Soft FM.

As the Soft FM Category Manager, you will be responsible for contributing to the creation and execution of global/regional category management strategies and business outcomes for our stakeholders across all Serco sectors/functions that maximise benefits and allow the effective deployment of Soft FM solutions. The role will also perform supplier management activity with selected key suppliers who supply across business units.

The role will be reporting to the Head of Soft FM Procurement. As the category manager you will engage and work across the Procurement function globally with procurement business partners, procurement service management and sourcing teams. You will also oversee and supervise Senior Buyers and Buyers working on sourcing projects in the Soft FM category.

As part of this you will

• Lead category management for Soft FM sub-categories, from strategy creation through to the delivery of business outcomes and performance targets including in-year and annualised savings targets as agreed through the planning process
• Develop and implement category strategies into a clear and prioritised pipeline of sourcing projects for execution by the category team
• Oversee sourcing projects by overseeing, guiding and managing the execution of sourcing projects within the Soft FM category including the approval of gates in the sourcing process
• Build and manage senior supplier relationships to drive performance, value, and risk mitigation.
• Support bids by providing category insight, expertise and best practices to support bids to create competitive supply chain architecture that meets bid requirements, leverages the existing supply base or sources new suppliers as required, and mitigates risk to support profitable growth
• Coach and lead the category team, developing procurement capability and ensuring high-quality delivery.

What you'll need to do the role:

• Demonstrated consistent track record of delivery within large and complex procurement organisations, having worked in a complex changing environment with demanding business objectives in a competitive market sector
• Track record of Soft FM category and supplier management, effecting change and continuous improvement through creation and implementation of innovative category strategies and building of effective supplier relationships
• Good knowledge of English contract law and experience of negotiating, drafting and resolving contract terms using templates/banks of standard clauses
• Strong business acumen, able to understand complex business needs and drivers and identify ways for procurement to address
• Demonstrated track record of developing and maintaining strong senior stakeholder relationships
• Strong planning, organising, analytical and fact-based decision-making skills with high attention to detail

Why Serco:

Meaningful and vital work: In this position, your work is vital to the business, in terms of decisions and growth. You will gain a world of opportunity working for a globally operating business delivering essential services across 5 vital sectors, personal growth, achievement and development won't be hard to find. You'll also work with great people. You'll find yourself working in a highly motivated, supportive environment where no two days are the same, with experienced colleagues who strive for excellence.

Serco spends approximately £1.4bn globally with third party suppliers every year. Procurement supports the business by understanding business requirements and providing innovative solutions from the supply market throughout the business lifecycle that reduce cost, improve service and quality and protect the business from risk. Procurement is responsible for managing all third-party supplier arrangements including sourcing and contracting and supplier and contract management to deliver competitive advantage to Serco.

What we offer:

• Company car
• Bonus scheme - 5% on target, 10% exceeding targets
• Pension - 6%
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Chance to contribute to innovation in the public services
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion

About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the 'Ban the Box' pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on to discuss.