Category Lead

at  Hitachi Rail Limited

QUALIFICATIONS

• Educated to degree level (desirable)
• Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) or appropriate professional institute or relevant experience.

Hitachi Rail are looking for an experienced Category Lead to join our busy, dynamic and friendly direct procurement team. Reporting directly to the Head of Direct Procurement UK, as the Category Lead you will be responsible for conducting required source-to-contract activities to enable Hitachi Rail to perform its Rolling Stock & Operation Service and maintenance (OS&M) manufacturing and production activities.
You will work across both our Rolling Stock and OS&M functions, leading a small team of Commodity Managers & Buyers, ensuring the best delivery possible across the business.

Specifically, you will be responsible for the following deliverables:

• Expert stakeholder manager, capable of building positive and effective partnerships at all levels internally, across the Rail Business Unit and our supply chain.
• Excellent communicator, committed to ensuring the category team always deliver outstanding customer service.
• Developing overall category procurement strategy for Level 1 Category group, ensuring alignment with other Hitachi Rail entities.
• Lead the team of Commodity Managers to deliver required procurement strategies and plans for each project
• Provide input to the Procurement for Bids & Projects team to enable accurate and timely delivery of commercial and technical data to support bid activity.
• Approval of suitable suppliers for the commodity portfolio, ensuring HRE on-boarding process is followed.
• To achieve financial targets for all commodities within the portfolio.
• Contributes to and approves sourcing strategies for all new contract opportunities.
• Management of a team of Commodity Managers, providing commercial leadership for all new sourcing activities, promoter of innovative sourcing solutions (e.g. e-auctions)
• Accountable for sourcing activities within the category, ensuring compliance to all HRE processes and delivery in-line with business requirements
• Directly support the team in contract negotiations with suppliers where required
• Accountable for ensuring effective handover of contracts between Commodity & Contract Managers, as well as to Operational procurement teams across the business.
• Responsible for delivering value across the category including contribution to overall savings targets and increased functional ROI.
• Ensure supplier relationship management activities are followed across the category