Global Category Manager - Utilities, Travel & Fleet - Indirect Procurement

Overview

Global Category Manager - Utilities, Travel & Fleet

We’re building a new global procurement structure, and this role will help shape how it works.

As Global Category Manager for Utilities, Travel and Fleet, you’ll take strategic ownership of three important areas of indirect spend. Utilities will be the core of your expertise, and you’ll need several years’ hands-on experience managing utilities across
both the US and European markets
.This isn’t a role where you’ll simply inherit a category plan and keep it ticking over. You’ll be the subject matter expert, setting the direction, challenging existing approaches and helping the wider business make better commercial decisions.

You’ll create and lead global category strategies that improve value, reduce risk and manage total cost of ownership. The wider portfolio covers Travel and Fleet, but Utilities is the non-negotiable technical requirement.

You’ll work with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams across different countries, turning spend data and market insight into practical sourcing plans. You’ll also lead major supplier negotiations, build stronger supplier relationships and make sure agreed changes are implemented, not quietly filed away after the presentation

What you’ll do

• Lead the global category strategy for Utilities, Travel and Fleet, with Utilities as the principal area of expertise.
• Develop sourcing strategies that reflect the different energy markets, regulations, commercial models and supplier landscapes across the US and Europe.
• Run complex global and multi-regional sourcing projects from initial analysis through negotiation, contracting and implementation.
• Manage strategic and critical supplier relationships, including performance, risk, cost and continuous improvement.
• Create clear category plans based on spend analysis, market intelligence, business requirements and total cost of ownership.
• Lead cross-functional category and sourcing teams across countries, functions and business units.
• Negotiate complex agreements with utilities, travel and fleet suppliers.
• Identify supply, commercial, regulatory and implementation risks before they become expensive problems.
• Ensure contracts, specification changes and demand-management initiatives are adopted across the business.
• Build procurement capability by sharing category insight, tools and good practice across the organisation.
• Support wider procurement change projects where your commercial or category expertise can add value

• Several years’ direct utilities category experience across both the US and EU markets. This is essential.
• Strong knowledge of utility sourcing, market structures, pricing mechanisms, supplier models and commercial risk in both regions.
• Around 8 to 10 years or more in strategic sourcing, category management or supplier relationship management.
• Experience developing and implementing category strategies across multiple countries or regions.
• A track record of leading complex global negotiations and large-scale sourcing or change programmes.
• Broader experience of Travel and Fleet procurement would be valuable, although deep utilities expertise matters most.
• The confidence to act as the organisation’s subject matter expert and give a clear recommendation, even when the answer isn’t the easiest one.
• Strong stakeholder and change-management skills, with experience working in a complex matrix organisation.
• A practical, analytical approach. You’ll be comfortable working through spend data, contracts and market information, then explaining the conclusion in plain English.
• Familiarity with spend analytics, eSourcing and…