IT Category Manager at MultiChoice

Purpose of the Position:

Manage, direct, and coordinate Category Management, including Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Management, Benefit Tracking, Contract Management and Internal Stakeholder Management activities delivering total cost of ownership savings and procurement process improvements for an assigned set of categories.

Key Performance Objectives

Managing Selected Categories

For the selected categories:

• Define and Implement Category Management Approach; Develop overall category vision and strategy in line with the established overall Procurement Strategy and Policies.
• Deep understanding and technical expertise, specifically Proven experience as a Procurement professional with extensive Category management in IT.
• Act as an Account lead to one or more Business Units, and act in a Source to Pay advisory role to the Finance Business Partners and CFOs, and HOD’s
• Establish category priorities and planning based on benefits opportunities.
• Lead the planning and application of Strategic Sourcing, using the structured methodology, to address Category total cost of ownership.
• Mandate to negotiate, sign and terminate contracts with regards to applicable categories, dependent on DOA.
• Lead, develop and manage cross-functional category teams in Strategic Sourcing
• Lead management of internal stakeholders: Work with business partners to develop and secure valuable agreements to procure materials and/or services which meet internal business partner requirements.
• Lead the development and monitor the execution of the Supplier Management Strategy / Approach, including Supplier Relationship Management and Performance Management.
• Work with Contract Managers to execute Contract Management as a part of Category Management/Supplier Management activities and ensure regional and local contract execution resulting from with Strategic Sourcing.
• Execute contract implementation in a way that maximizes future contract compliance. Monitor compliance and solve issues with internal customers and suppliers.
• Plan for and set a plan for contract implementation in collaboration with central and regional buyers and when applicable, with the PTP Manager
• Accountable for Category Benefit Tracking, to identify opportunities for cost savings and to measure the results of category sourcing and procurement initiatives.
• Lead and collaborate with Sourcing analyst(s) and Sourcing Specialists (from the pool of Resources) in the different Strategic Sourcing activities.
• Manage suppliers: Facilitate Commercial Supplier Performance Management for strategic and preferred suppliers, where applicable.
• Good understanding of eProcurement, e-Sourcing and e-Tendering tools

Qualifications

• Ideally advanced university qualifications, preferably in Purchasing Management or Supply Chain Degree, Commerce other relevant discipline.
• Recognized qualification in Procurement or working towards a CIPS qualification. MCIPs is an advantage.

Experience / Skills 

• Minimum of 5-10 years’ relevant IT procurement experience in a similar role, preferably in highly regulated industries.
• Deep technical experience in IT Sourcing and Category Management with a focus in the IT Category.
• Deep understanding and ability to execute on Project & Program Management.
• Stakeholder Management.
• Proven analytical skill and ability is essential. Strong competencies in data cleaning, sorting, visualisation, analysis and modelling is required.
• Advanced negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage leaders within a team.
• Experience with managing Preferential Procurement and Enterprise and Supplier Development.
• Can-do go getter attitude with ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

Competencies

• Influencer with rich Strategic Sourcing experience.
• Strong record in successful sourcing of complex commodities, especially Services
• Strong Stakeholder Management abilities and can be seen as being objective and rational and acts as a trusted advisor to the business.
• Experienced in managing relationship at executive level with internal stakeholders.
• Fluent in English.