Global Category Manager - HR & Professional Services

We have a rather rare and exciting opportunity for an experienced strategic Category Manager with global category expertise in HR & Professional Services to join our London based Indirect Procurement Team on a permanent basis.

Reporting to the Regional Head of Procurement, you will support the business in delivering value to our customers through the effective management of our indirect supplier base for HR & Professional Services with an annual spend of circa £150M. This will involve working across Smiths 4 operating Divisions of John Crane, Smiths Detection, Smiths Interconnect and FlexTek as well as our Corporate and Business Information Services functions in 53 countries around the globe.

Our categories are fast paced, demanding, and ever changing. Our customers play an important role in our success, as a Global Category Manager, it is your job to understand the market, review data, trends, and insights to align with the needs of our customers.

This is a highly visible and influential role, allowing you the freedom to challenge the status quo, pioneer new business models and find innovative ways to transform the category. You will operate with a high degree of autonomy allowing you the opportunity to shape the category to deliver optimal solutions to our business across multiple global markets.

To be successful we are looking for you to have experience in managing a portfolio of suppliers within the HR & Professional services category, developing category strategies, building stakeholder relationships and creating process and policy to support the business to optimise supplier performance.

You will have excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with demonstrable stakeholder management up to Executive level. You will have the skills to interact, influence and negotiate with demonstrable experience leading complex sourcing projects which release substantial value for the business.

• Develop, lead and communicate strategies for assigned categories. Gain approval of category strategies through regular meetings and communication with key stakeholders across the Smiths Interconnect business.
• Lead and/or guide all supplier selection activities to ensure these are in line with category strategies and support the needs of the business.
• Create a supplier reduction roadmap and ensure this is successfully implemented for assigned categories
• Utilize strategic Procurement tools and techniques to drive maximum value (eRFx, TCO, Should-Cost Modelling, etc)
• Develop and deploy cost reduction/profit improvement plans with suppliers that achieve/exceed the annual cost improvement target and which are reflected in the Smiths Interconnect P&L.
• Ensure that cost reduction tracking tools, including the Smiths Excellence System (SES) tools, are constantly maintained, and updated to reflect the latest position. Report progress against your personal cost reduction target.
• Prepare Business Cases, including ROI models, and effectively present rational for cost savings opportunities, including results of commodity metrics to Senior Leadership
• Drive working capital improvement through extending supplier payment terms and supporting the Operation Procurement team with the implementation of VMI programs.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships through utilizing a consistent and robust Supplier Relationship Management process; delivering the required performance from our supply base.
• Implement robust supplier contracts to reduce risk and drive the required level of supplier performance from the assigned categories.
• Maintain current knowledge industry and market factors affecting assigned categories, to allow for effective discussion and negotiating with technical personnel within Smiths Interconnect and the supplier network.
• Lead and support Make vs Buy activities – acting as expert for assigned categories

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity

• You ideally will be fully qualified by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply Chain (CIPS)
• A courageous leader with a willingness to learn, a business-minded ‘doer’ with knowledge of the UK, European, US and APAC markets w
• Someone who puts the consumer experience at the heart of activities and decisions.
• Innovative, entrepreneurial, focused and decisive with the ability to take risks where needed. You must feel comfortable in making creative , experimenting continuously and pushing boundaries to drive change.
• An ability to navigate a Matrix organisation, influence multiple stakeholders and build strong relationships internally/externally to drive action.
• Analytical with the ability to analyse data and uncover insights to enable the right business decisions.
• As required, Global travel.

At Smiths we apply leading-edge technology to design, manufacture and deliver market-leading innovative solutions that meet our customers' evolving needs, and touch the lives of millions of people every day. We are a FTSE100, global business of around 14,600 colleagues, based in 50+ countries. Our solutions have a real impact on lives across the planet, enabling industry, improving healthcare, enhancing security, advancing connectivity and supporting new homes. Our products and services are often critical to our customers’ operations, while our proprietary technology and high service levels help create competitive advantage. We welcome colleagues with a curious mind, who are happy with responsibility, enjoy a challenge and are attracted by the idea of working at a business with a 170+ year history of innovation, and five global divisions, all experts in their field.

Smiths Group has been pioneering progress in technology and engineering for more than 170 years. Our products and services touch the lives of millions of people every day through our leading positions in critical markets including general industry, safety and security, energy and aerospace. Our four divisions have distinctive capabilities and operate in 50 countries, together employing more than 14,500 talented colleagues.

Our operational colleagues are supported by specialised corporate functional teams based all around the world and at Smiths London CHQ. Our functional teams, including strategy, finance, IT, HR, legal, tax, operational excellence, communications and corporate affairs, work together and with our divisions and regions to support Smiths exciting growth agenda. Joining one of our functional teams brings the opportunity to learn from great people, build skills, and forge a diverse and interesting global career while contributing to the success of an innovative and accelerating company.

For more information on Smiths please visit www.smiths.com.