Category Specialist: Engineering

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The Category Specialist:
Engineering supports the development and execution of category strategies for engineering-related goods, services, projects, maintenance requirements, and technical solutions across AECI operations.

The role is responsible for supporting strategic sourcing activities, supplier relationship management, market intelligence gathering, contract administration, spend analysis, and value delivery initiatives within the Engineering category portfolio.

Working closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, Projects, Supply Chain, SHEQ, Commercial and Finance stakeholders, the incumbent contributes to delivering cost-effective, safe, reliable and sustainable supply solutions that support operational excellence, plant reliability and business growth objectives.

The role supports key categories including:

• Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) supplies
• Mechanical equipment
• Electrical equipment
• Instrumentation and control systems
• Capital project procurement
• Technical and consulting services
• Fabrication and construction services
• Reliability and condition-monitoring services

• Support the development of strategic sourcing approaches for critical mechanical equipment, engineering spares and maintenance services to improve plant reliability and operational continuity
• Manage sourcing activities for engineering spares, maintenance services and operational requirements
• Drive end-to-end sourcing activities, including RFx processes, supplier evaluations, commercial negotiations, and supplier selection.
• Support the development and continuous refinement of category strategies through market intelligence and demand insights.
• Conduct ongoing spend analysis, market and supplier research to identify opportunities, risks, and alternative supply sources.
• Continuously monitor supplier markets, risks and availability to support operational continuity
• Identify alternative suppliers and sourcing opportunities to improve reliability and responsiveness
• Provide input into Procurement dashboards and tracking tools.
• Support procurement planning through spend analysis, demand forecasting and supplier insights
• Contribute to budgeting and forecasting processes through spend and cost analysis.
• Proactively identify and mitigate supply and commercial risks within assigned categories.
• Ensure procurement activities align with operational, maintenance and shutdown requirements

• Conduct detailed spend analysis across managed categories to identify cost-saving opportunities, demand drivers, and initiatives to reduce operational inefficiencies and procurement lead times. Identify, develop, and implement cost-saving and value-creation initiatives aligned to procurement targets
• Support the implementation of category-led initiatives, to ensure value delivery and in line with procurement targets
• Apply total cost of ownership (TCO) principles to enable optimal sourcing decisions
• Perform cost modelling, scenario analysis, and should-cost modelling using market and supplier data.
• Support standardisation and optimisation initiatives across engineering and maintenance procurement
• Track and report on savings delivery and benefits realisation
• Support optimisation of engineering inventory and critical spare holdings to balance operational reliability and working capital requirements
• Identify opportunities to reduce emergency procurement through improved planning, supplier alignment and sourcing strategies
• Drive standardisation initiatives across engineering and maintenance categories to reduce complexity and improve procurement efficiency
• Build and maintain a qualified supplier base for assigned categories
• Manage supplier performance across quality, cost, service delivery and responsiveness
• Support supplier segmentation and contribute to supplier category and/ or diversification strategies
• Monitor supplier performance through defined KPIs (cost, quality, delivery, service, sustainability) and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Lead supplier performance reviews and implement corrective actions where required
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with OEMs and specialised engineering suppliers to improve technical support, responsiveness and lifecycle value
• Drive supplier innovation and continuous improvement

• Partner with internal stakeholders (Operations, Commercial, Finance, S&OP, R&D) to support…