Category Lead

Job ID #346132

Category Lead

On behalf of our client in the Telco Sector, PROCOM is looking for a Category Lead.

Category Lead – Job Description

• Manage and own assigned spend category strategies to drive towards procurement and company objectives and business partner goals

• Manage acquisitions of materials, supplies, equipment, and services and review purchase requisitions for accurate data and appropriate authorization

• Lead and ensure usage of Procurement tools, processes, policies and standards

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to influence, develop, and gain buy-in on aligned category strategies and advance key supplier partnership aligned with such strategy with a focus on strategic opportunities

• Provide leadership and guidance to business partners and the IT Procurement team on best-in-class procurement practices, on-going advancements and opportunities associated with assigned categories, and strategic category insights to support delivery of company objectives

• Provide professional and technical acumen for preparing Requests for Proposals (RFP’s), contracts, bid proposals and compare bids and evaluates options.

• Support the IT Professional Services Team to ensure their sourcing initiatives are on-track to deliver value

• Lead and own relationships with assigned suppliers within your categories, ensuring fulfilment of contractual obligations and business partner requirements

• Act as a first level escalation point for issues related to suppliers for which you are identified as the procurement prime

• Manage assigned supplier issue and dispute escalations to settlement, including negotiations and settlement agreement execution

• Responsible for building, maintaining, and enhancing solid relationships with key internal stakeholders across the organization to ensure suppliers within the category and the category strategy are meeting business needs

• Challenging the status quo by actively participating in and taking an active role in the continuous improvement, implementation of innovations and automations to create best-in-class procurement practices that are intuitive and user-friendly for internal stakeholders and suppliers

• Implement and champion ethical procurement practices, procurement policies, supplier social responsibility objectives, and supplier diversity and sustainability programs

• Act as internal consultant to business owners on sourcing practices, supplier performance, compliance, and risk management policies, processes, and procurement standard practices

Category Lead – Mandatory Skills

• University degree in business, engineering, computer science, math, or related field with a general understanding of business operations, financial modeling, and subject matter expertise to influence business decisions

• 3 years+ procurement, telecommunications, IT or equivalent experience

• Procurement designation/certification desirable but not required – Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Purchasing Management Association of Canada (PMAC)

• Excellent communications, listening and influencing skills, able to communicate complex information to decision makers and key stakeholders in a clear and concise manner

• Critical thinking mindset and analytic skills

• Creativity to seek, encourage and find non-traditional approaches

• Professional executive presence with a demonstrated ability to navigate difficult situations through relationship building and influencing others

• Results-driven both short and long term

• Ability to execute multiple projects and excel in a fast-paced, results-oriented work environment

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; a demonstrated collaborator

• High standard of computer and data manipulation and interpretation skills – particularly in relation to financial, project management and technical applications

Category Lead – Nice to Have Skills

• Experience managing complex projects in the telecommunications industry or IT is a strong asset

Category Lead – Assignment Start Date

ASAP – 6 months to start

Category Lead – Assignment Location

Toronto, ON – Work Hybrid