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 Mansfield
Situated roughly half way between Sheffield and Nottingham, Mansfield is a town with a history of being a market town and the centre of a thriving mining industry. The town has forests in almost every direction outside its borders, and was in times gone by a favourite stopping place for royals on their hunting excursions. On the map Mansfield bears all the hallmarks of a market town, with several major roads emerging to connect the surrounding farms and villages. Nowadays the M1 passes the town’s west, and railways connect it to Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester.
The town gained notoriety among other mining communities when its mines did not take part in the bitter miners’ strike in the 1980s. However the move was not to prove a long-term saviour of the industry, as today no mines survive. Mansfield was, not surprisingly, home to the famous Mansfield Brewery, but it was taken over in 1999 and production ceased on the site. Mansfield is now a fairly typical post-industrial town, with the service sector and some light industry taking prominence.
The town was the centre of the swimming universe in 2008, however, when local girl Rebecca Adlington won two gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, in the 400 m and 800 m freestyle races. At the time of writing, after London 2012, her 800 m record of 8:14.10 still stands as the world and Olympic record.
The Mansfield urban area is quite large, with a population of around 150,000, which in itself makes it a decent candidate if you’re looking for Global Category Manager jobs. The town also benefits from several large cities and towns within half an hour, so anyone willing to commute will stand an even greater chance of success.
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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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