Category Manager - Outsourced Service Partners

at  TalkTalk

Procurement at TalkTalk is changing. We have a vision of procurement as a function that delivers TalkTalk’s business strategy through its suppliers. Delivering that vision will require a small team of skilled, experienced, and credible category managers to work alongside their business stakeholders.
We’re looking for people who share this vision and have the energy and hunger to drive the change we need. We’re looking for people that think innovatively on how to best deliver for the business, are not constrained by a traditional procurement role, can influence in a complex and changing stakeholder landscape, and that won’t take no for an answer.
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a new team, influence the evolution of procurement in a household brand, and make a real impact on the performance of the wider business.

Your responsibilities

• Understand and proactively manage TalkTalk spend in your category using comprehensive category strategies to make sure that every penny is delivering TalkTalk’s business objectives. Success is defined by our impact on company KPI’s including both financial and non-financial measures.
• Identifying and prioritising opportunities where procurement can deliver value, delivering those opportunities through strategic sourcing or negotiation, putting in place appropriate contracts, and then managing performance against the resulting contracts through life
• To represent procurement as part of relevant business area leadership teams, including Executive Committee and their direct reports
• Building business cases and supporting them through the relevant governance
• Being a positive and proactive member of the TalkTalk procurement team

Core skills required:

• Able to influence challenging stakeholders and work closely with them
• Ability to build strong relationships built on mutual trust and respect
• Knowledge and experience of delivering value through strategic procurement activity
• Experience running RFx processes, planning and running sourcing projects efficiently
• Competent and skilled negotiator
• Highly data literate with good working knowledge of Excel and the ability to derive actionable insights from complex and incomplete data sets
• Working knowledge of financial accounting basics including P&Ls, balance sheets, and cashflow statements and the practical differences between them
• Attention to detail while able to think strategically and long-term
• Knowledge of commercial contracts, including drafting
• Enthusiasm to grow and develop with training and attending industry events
• Experience of working in the Telecom industry is not required

Category specific skills required:

• Significant SRM experience, including performance and contractual management
• Enthusiasm for delivering high performance from suppliers

As a recognised Top 50 Inclusive Employer in the UK, we know that diversity means success and innovation. We want our workplace to reflect the communities and customer we serve. Being inclusive is part of our DNA; we are all 100% human, and we create a culture where you can truly be yourself.
We’re also not your usual 9-5. We are a dynamic workplace and we want to talk to you about how you like to work

• Understand and proactively manage TalkTalk spend in your category using comprehensive category strategies to make sure that every penny is delivering TalkTalk’s business objectives. Success is defined by our impact on company KPI’s including both financial and non-financial measures.
• Identifying and prioritising opportunities where procurement can deliver value, delivering those opportunities through strategic sourcing or negotiation, putting in place appropriate contracts, and then managing performance against the resulting contracts through life
• To represent procurement as part of relevant business area leadership teams, including Executive Committee and their direct reports
• Building business cases and supporting them through the relevant governance
• Being a positive and proactive member of the TalkTalk procurement tea