Category Manager at Accenture

The Category Manager is responsible for working with external and internal customers to identify and execute sourcing solutions to drive down the Total Cost of Ownership on identified categories, conduct vendor and contract management, supplier relationship management and develop recommendations for managing procurement processes and spending. 

Strategic Sourcing:

•     Collate and analyse current spend data
•     Identify opportunities, prioritize and develop a high level category segmentation approach
•     Develop an internal category profile defining the Total Cost of Ownership, procurement processes, spend profiles and risks
•     Develop an industry and supplier profile, including understanding the industry dynamics, potential suppliers and industry and supplier financials
•     Define the Category Strategy outlining internal change tactics, the sourcing strategy and strategic options for the category. Also identify and quantify opportunities defining the normalised baseline and benefits potential.
•     Identify and qualify suppliers through agreed selection criteria
•     Conduct sourcing events
•              Develop and negotiate agreements / contracts with selected suppliers
•     Facilitate the drafting and signing of contracts with legal, suppliers and designated contract approvers
•     Develop communications and implementation plans for the category
•     Effectively leverage the capacity and capability within the Sourcing support team (within Transactional Services), where needed, in order to support the execution of selected activities within the strategic sourcing process

Category Management:

•     Develop category approach by analyzing category data and reviews with stakeholders
•     Manage implementation of the Category Strategy including the coordination of projects and stakeholders
•     Conduct market research monitoring category indices and market changes
•     Manage contract changes and negotiations
•     Develop and manage category demand plans
•     Monitor and manage category purchasing compliance
•     Develop category purchasing policies where required
•     Manage communications and relationships with key stakeholders
•     Manage category spot buys through the sourcing support services
•     Review and manage adhoc issues from end users (e.g. maintenance, production, legal) and Supply Chain
•     Effectively leverage the capacity and capability within the Category Management team (within Transactional Services), where needed, in order to support with execution of selected contract administration and management activities.

Supplier Relationship Management:

•     Develop a Supplier Relationship Management plan
•     Monitor and manage supplier scorecards
•     Establish, maintain and manage relationship with suppliers
•     Conduct regular review sessions with suppliers to manage project progress, supplier performance and supplier risks
•     Manage quality and operational issues with the supplier
•     Effectively leverage the capacity and capability within the Supplier Performance Management team (Transactional Services), where needed, in order to support the execution of selected activities related to monitoring supplier performance deviations.

Benefits Tracking:

•     Establish metrics (Benefits Tracker, KPI’s, SLA’s, etc.), monitor and report on actual benefits savings, supplier performance and compliance
•     Define accountabilities for compliance tracking, analysis and reporting

General Management

•     Facilitate and communicate sourcing activities with the category cross functional team
•     Coordinate sourcing support team activities in the BPO to assist with analytics and Category Management
•     Report and escalate non compliance of contracts through the required governance forums
•     Report category progress at the required forums

Category Managers
In addition, level B employees may be responsible for a group of Categories or Portfolio, as well as the management of a team of Level C-Category Managers . Additional responsibilities may include

• Providing leadership and direction to team members
• Defining the work efforts of category managers supporting the portfolio
• Accountable for the benefits realization of the portfolio
• Responsible for the team objectives and planning
• Ensuring end users satisfaction and maintaining acceptable service levels for categories in the portfolio
• Ensuring performance metrics are defined for team members and the evaluation thereof
• Ensuring the training and development objectives of team members are identified and met
• Providing ongoing category support and coaching to team members
• Leverages the team and Transactional support structure the maximize outputs
• Managing portfolio risks and issues

Other Features of the Job (e.g., location, traveling, shift hours, etc.):

•     Professionalism
•     Location: Rennie House, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
•     Travel to operations
•     Working Hours: 08:00 to 17:00