Technology Category Manager

Job Description As the Technology Category Manager, you will lead sourcing activities for large contracts across multiple areas of Information Technology with responsibility for a category budget value of £25m.  You'll be responsible for developing the category sourcing strategy to capture real savings through pooling company-wide purchasing volumes, negotiating TCO contracts with suppliers and leading other TCO cost reduction initiatives.  Taking a holistic view of your category and you'll have the ability to make improvements and develop flexible and creative solutions to support business strategies and the IT senior leadership team.  As a strategic thinker with first class negotiation skills and contract management experience you'll couple this with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment whilst being the Procurement and IT departments subject matter expert.  As part of this multi-disciplined role you will need to challenge and influence senior stakeholders within the business to ensure value for money in the Group's external spend and deliver real cost savings to the bottom line supporting the profitability of Rank Leisure Holdings. Responsibilities:  Strategy development Developing effective procurement, cost reduction strategies and implementing plans tailored to the category based on internal assessments of current and future needs, market trends and competition. Identifying and prioritising sourcing projects within the category across different spend areas. The ability to influence, manage and direct senior internal stakeholders and key external service partners, to delivery business change, process innovation and new and innovative IT services around key IT products and services to drive increased profit to the bottom line.  Strategy implementation Driving initiatives to deliver significant cost reductions and year-over-year productivity improvements in TCO. .  Ensure strategies are implemented and TCO reductions secured according to implementation plans.  Supplier management Leading the vendor selection and negotiation process and define supplier standards (RFQ, Tendering process, Master contracts).  Maintaining contractual and business relations and drive negotiations with all assigned suppliers, as well as monitor supplier satisfaction.  Solve operational issues with vendors (e.g., quality, delivery and service issues).  Performance management Measuring and tracking internal key performance measures, defining the data collection process and forecasting budgetary impact and actual savings.  Assessing performance of operational purchasing, identify key issues and fix with permanent solutions.  Qualifications MCIPS qualified or studying is desirable Ability to develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of the supply market, covering all relevant markets and supplier base, including the relevant legislation and policies.  Detailed knowledge of contract law, structuring & documentation of agreements.  Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence internal stakeholders at all levels.  Strong analytical skills coupled with excellent negotiation skills.