Global Category Manager jobs
Category management in the procurement field is overseeing the acquisition of certain classes of goods or materials, often those that are somehow interconnected or interdependent. In larger companies and/or those where sourcing is international, an additional layer of management, the global category procurement manager, might be inserted.
Depending on how advanced the existing procurement is, the global category manager might be required to develop an entire global category procurement strategy or manage the one that is already in operation within a set of guidelines. Either way, the aim will be to reduce costs to the company, which will be achieved by negotiating deals and rates with supplier, forming partnerships and constantly analysing the market in which he or she is working.
A general aim will be to reduce or limit costs wherever possible, both within the employing company through systems, staffing and prudent economising and through the act of procurement itself. The global category manager will have to implement a worldwide plan of action throughout the company. This can mean seeking to impose consistency internationally to meet the results of forecasting, planning and analysis. But it can also involve the exact opposite: tailoring different procurement strategies to the different market environments to take advantage of local efficiencies.
The skills required
Management level experience would be a prerequisite a job of this level, and many employers will demand a bachelor’s degree, MBA or other recognised business qualification. A proven ability to communicate ideas and complicated instructions to the team will be required, and only people with an analytical mindset will we able to cope with such work.
Owing to the international nature of the job, language fluency would be extremely useful, as would a willingness to work abroad, often for long periods. A thorough understanding of the market in which the company seeks to procure materials and goods will probably be requested too, although this could be counterbalanced by excellence in procurement in another field.
An ability to fully understand the implications of contracts, and possibly the ability to draw them up from scratch, will also be an essential personal ability.
Global Category Manager Jobs in Bracknell
The Berkshire town of Bracknell is located at the centre of a cross with Farnborough, Reading, Maidenhead and the western tip of London as its points. It is located between the A308(M) and the M3, which run parallel to its north and south respectively.
Bracknell has a long and rich history, with mentions in the Domesday Book and Bronze Age finds there. Locals like to believe it was a favourite haunt of highwayman Dick Turpin, and there was supposed to be a secret tunnel between two inns via which he could escape capture. There must be something in the water, as a band of marauders known as the Wokingham Blacks had been terrorising the forest area; they were finally brought to justice by the Grenadier Guards in 1723. After World War 2, Bracknell was designated as a location for a New Town, and in the intervening decades the town’s population grew from a few thousand to its current total of around 50,000.
Commercially, the town is rather successful, and many multinationals have set up offices there, particularly in the hi-tech and electronics sectors. The list includes Fujitsu, Panasonic, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Siemens, Cable and Wireless, 3M and Novell. The headquarters of Supermarket Waitrose and the UK arm of BMW are also in Bracknell.
Bracknell is a thriving town, where great jobs in logistics, supply chain and procurement such as Global Category Manager positions are often found. Its excellent links to London and the whole of South England, as well as Heathrow Airport, are no doubt parts of the decision when companies choose to locate there.
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Cast UK’s procurement opportunities
Cast UK were founded by specialists in logistics, supply chain and procurement, and our consultants are also drawn from these backgrounds, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for when they come to us. In fact, employers often approach us to find managerial and executive candidates before they are advertised, so if you’re in procurement, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Whether you’re relocating for personal reasons or are simply looking for more job fulfilment, there could well be an employer who’s looking for the skills you have. At any given time, Cast UK have jobs all over the UK, so wherever you live, or plan to live, we are well placed to find work that suits your skills.
To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Global Category Manager for your business or find you a job as a Global Category Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.
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