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Senior Associate – Category Management - Marketing

The role holder is responsible for executing category management & strategic sourcing activities for DH business requirements. The role holder is responsible for performing spend analysis, market intelligence studies, cost benefit / value analysis, contract development and supplier relationship management for critical suppliers.

3. Key Role and Responsibilities

Execution Excellence & Adherence

• Adhere to the processes, guidelines, and protocols for all category management activities in line with set standards & protocols

• Align category management activities in alignment with procurement requirements of business stakeholders

• Prepare reports to monitor key performance indicators, highlight gaps in category management operations and recommend mitigation actions to the Category Managers

• Support the Category Manager with improvement initiatives within the strategic procurement process workflows

• Act as the first touchpoint for category management & strategic sourcing related queries with relevant procurement function stakeholders and support Category Managers with escalations/ exception cases

Strategic Sourcing Management

• Execute strategic sourcing activities in alignment with processes and guidelines across all kinds of strategic spends

• Conduct assessments to highlight sourcing constraints, supply risks and mitigation plans to the Category Manager

• Collect information and interface as required with suppliers throughout the contract lifecycle, from starting, evaluating, selecting, renewing, and terminating contracts

• Provide inputs to the Category Manager for implementing special projects for enhancing levels of service and minimize costs, minimise contractual risks and improve compliance

Spend Analysis and Cost Savings

• Conduct spends analysis studies to analyse procurement trends, consolidate findings and present it to Category Manager along with insights and recommendations

• Execute strategic cost saving initiatives basis identified improvement initiatives by the Category Manager to optimise the relevant commercial, supplier relationships through category management skills, tools, and techniques

• Work with business stakeholders for determining the demand, project pipeline and ensure adherence to guidelines for optimising procurement costs and value

• Perform cost benefit / value analysis study for proposed projects, share findings of the analysis with the Category Manager and share recommendations basis the analysis

• Execute all category procurement spend activities in line with annual budgets and cost saving targets

Market Intelligence and Analysis

• Perform market intelligence studies basis guidance from Category Manager, including identifying priority areas, sources, metrics, and analysis required – also identifying partners and third-party resources as required

• Analyse market benchmarking studies to identify trends, changes, and developments for the various procurement categories, including market prices, supplier capabilities and potential risks

• Support leadership to incorporate market intelligence in Category Management vertical strategies

Category Strategy Development & Management

• Consolidate inputs from spend analysis and market intelligence and prepare the inputs to support the Category Manager in defining the category and supplier strategy

• Monitor and follow-up with the relevant internal stakeholders to drive category management activities basis set ownership and governance structure

• Compile the sourcing projects list, prioritisation of project and savings goals

• Upload strategic sourcing projects to the project management tool

• Execute all category management & strategic spend projects in line with the set strategy and cost saving targets

• Track performance and publish reports regarding category management and strategic sourcing activities

Supplier Relationship Management

• Adhere to supplier relationship management approach and guidelines set by the leadership, including vendor segmentation, risk management and relationship management guidelines

• Analyse and provide inputs on supplier evaluation and selection to the Manager Category

• Work with strategic suppliers in line with the supplier relationship management approach and guidelines

• Assess and prepare supplier assessment reports to evaluate supplier performance, and support risk management actions (if any) as directed by Category Managers to correct supplier performance

• Interface and act as the first touchpoint for strategic suppliers to address supplier challenges and issues

Self-Management

• Meet individual objectives and priorities in line with the DH GS procurement and overall GS objectives, within the set milestones

• Complete assigned upskilling and continuous development initiatives set by sub-function manager and implement those learning in existing ways of working

• Practice a customer centric culture, drive innovation in the existing role and have a high-performance mindset to generate high value for the DH GS procurement function

4. Key Stakeholders & Financial Accountability

Key Stakeholders

Internal:

• Contract management team

• Procurement excellence team

• Legal function

• Internal audit function

• Other group service departments

External:

• Suppliers

• Contractors

• Service providers

• Regulators

• Auditors

Financial Accountability Manage category spend of AED 100+ Million

5. Qualifications, Experience and Skills

Qualifications

• Bachelors’ degree in Business Administration / Supply Chain or any related field.

• Additional qualification such as CIPS, Project Management etc. certification preferred

Experience

• Minimum of 2-5 years of experience in procurement function

• Project management experience including planning, mobilising, and delivering procurement projects

• Strong understanding of contracts and legal terminology with experience in delivering across a diverse procurement category

• Experience working in a procurement shared services is preferred

• Experience working in the Middle East region is preferred

Technical Skills/Competencies

• Category know-how

• Category management

• Strategic sourcing

• Supplier relationship management

• Contracts and regulatory know-how

• Project management

Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic orientation

• Customer focus

• Intrapreneurial thinking

• Talent focus and employee centricity

• Process excellence and execution focus

• Innovation

• Team leadership