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Category Manager / Buyer (Packaging)
Liverpool

Princes are seeking an experienced Category Manager to join our Packaging team at our Head Office in Liverpool City Centre. This role is great for those with a background in FMCG procurement / buying roles, particularly within packaging. You will use your expertise to strategically source goods and services, with the support of two direct reports.

Role Purpose:

• Strategically source goods and services to improve quality and provide for innovative opportunities at the lowest total cost of ownership.
• Collaborate, create, publish and implement comprehensive category management strategies and lead cross functional teams in delivery.
• Ensure all goods and services are sourced responsibly in line with regulatory, ethical technical sustainability and customer requirements.
• Be a consultative partner, demonstrating knowledge across spend categories and providing insight to support and help to shape strategy.
• Be a champion for business processes and governance, and support the Head of Procurement with the development of other colleagues.

Key Responsibilities:

• Create and develop category and sourcing plans in conjunction with business stakeholders.
• Obtain the lowest possible total cost of ownership through negotiation, market intelligence and supplier knowledge.
• Conduct regular reviews with key stakeholders and provide regular reporting on initiatives and cost reduction projects.
• Utilise ERP system to drive analytics and provide appropriate reports for use within category plans and for sharing and analysis with appropriate teams.
• Utilise appropriate tools to maximise value delivery (e-auctions, should cost modelling, TCO, value lever analysis)
• Demonstrate commercial awareness and lead negotiations across all allocated areas of third party spend.
• Develop a network of strong supplier relationships that create innovative opportunities to drive value.
• Make use of SRM tools and performance measures to drive supplier effectiveness.
• Maximise opportunities to mitigate risk across area of spend responsibility.
• Manage all aspects of spend throughout the life cycle.
• Operate as a subject matter expert across all allocated spend and act as a trusted partner to the business.
• Excellent working knowledge of the key personnel at each major supplier, their processes, internal systems and moreover understand cost drivers.
• Drive working capital reduction across the category.
• Develop and maintain responsible suppliers ensuring they are maintained to a standard to meet Princes / Industry standards (e.g. BRC).
• Ensure all suppliers comply with Princes ethical standards, are SEDEX registered (where appropriate) and may be audited.
• Manage contracts professionally and accurately, while maintaining cost conditions and source lists.
• Control currency requirements in line with group policy if required.
• Professionally resolve problems both internally and externally in a fair and ethical manner while protecting the long-term interests of the team and company.
• Support fully the efforts of other departments in achieving 100% stakeholder satisfaction.