Head of Category Management

International Facilities Services

Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal

Full-time

Posted 11 hours ago

Full-time Driving & Transport

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Purpose of the Role

Lead the end-to-end strategic sourcing, contract management and supplier relationship management agenda, converting enterprise demand into competitively sourced, contractually protected and sustainably managed supplier outcomes across IFS Africa.
The role covers group and market-facing sourcing, category strategy, contracting, supplier performance and strategic supplier relationships across operating markets.

Key Responsibilities

2.1. Key Accountabilities

Own the integrated sourcing, contracting and SRM operating model and annual delivery plan.
Translate business strategy, demand forecasts and spend insights into category and sourcing priorities.
Lead high-value, high-risk and cross-market sourcing programmes from strategy through award and mobilisation.
Establish contract lifecycle disciplines covering drafting, approval, obligations, renewals, variations and exit.
Build segmented SRM programmes for strategic, critical and developmental suppliers.
Drive competitive tension, specification challenge, demand management and total-cost-of-ownership decisions.
Develop group-versus-local supply strategies that balance leverage, resilience, localisation and working capital.
Chair supplier performance and value reviews for material suppliers and intervene on persistent underperformance.
Partner with Operations, Finance, Legal, HSSE and market leadership to ensure sourcing decisions are executable.
Build sourcing and supplier capability in the team through coaching, standards, playbooks and deal reviews.

2.2. Decision Rights

2.3. Governance & Risk

Maintain segregation of duties, auditable sourcing records, competition integrity, conflicts-of-interest controls and compliance with Levels of Authority, contracting standards and applicable legislation.

2.4. World-Class Function Expectation

Benchmark the function against leading procurement standards, institutionalise fact-based category strategies, and continuously improve value, speed, control, resilience and supplier innovation.

2.5. Digital & Data Expectation

Use approved procurement technology, structured data and digital workflows as the default way of working.
Maintain high-quality data at source and actively identify automation opportunities.

2.6. Key Interfaces

CFO/Executive leadership, Operations, Finance, Legal, HSSE, Transformation, market leadership, budget owners, strategic suppliers and Group procurement.

2.7. Team Management

Lead and develop staff within the context of the applicable labour legislation.
Monitor staff performance and provide regular feedback, including informal and formal staff appraisals.
Coach and support staff where necessary to achieve objectives.
Manage staff administration issues, including leave, time management and interaction with the wider business.
Manage and deliver on succession plans to enable the development of a future generation of leaders and specialists and ensure optimal turnover and retention levels are maintained.
Champion staff training and development through the utilisation of available training opportunities or contributing to the development of new training solutions in collaboration with national training specialists.

2.8. Teamwork and Self-Management

Take ownership and accountability for tasks and activities and demonstrate effective self-management in terms of planning and prioritising, and self-development.
Follow through to ensure that quality and productivity standards of work are consistently and accurately maintained.
Inform relevant parties in the event of tasks or deadlines not met, the potential risks thereof and provide appropriate resolution.
Support and drive the business core values.
Manage colleagues and client’s expectations and communicate appropriately.
Demonstrate willingness to help others and “go the extra mile” to meet team targets and objectives.
Champion training and development of self and others through utilising available training opportunities.
Participate in and drive regular performance appraisals and ensure that own targets and goals are clear and achievable.

Qualification and Experience

Relevant bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Commerce, Engineering, Finance or equivalent.
Postgraduate qualification advantageous.
MCIPS/CIPS or an equivalent professional designation required.
12+ years’ progressive procurement experience, including senior leadership of strategic sourcing, contracting and supplier management in complex multi-site or multi-country environments.
Valid Code EB drivers' licence
Willingness to travel to the sites across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Preference will be given to internal applicants and appointments that support the achievement of our Employment Equity and Affirmative Action goals