Senior IT Procurement Category Manager

What will you do

Our Procurement EMEA Team is looking for an experienced professional who will be responsible for developing, planning, implementing, analyzing and executing regional Strategic Category Management related to IT communications, services, hardware and software. Senior Category Manager will be specifically responsible for the creation and execution of the procurement and business strategies, business processes, policies, savings strategy and the implementation of the savings initiatives result of the category supplier’s negotiations and agreements within EMEA region in the different business units. Senior Category Manager will procure services, develop strategies, create and implements processes to provide at the highest quality and the best cost to business owners in their regions. Senior Category Manager will manage stakeholders, negotiates to influence internal and external parties who may have conflicting objectives to accept concepts, practices and approaches. The role will have global exposure and will interact with the Global IT Procurement organization.

How will you do it

• Provides strategic procurement programs that leverage the operations of Johnson Controls with measurable financial results globally.
• Directs and implements region policies, procedures, and standards that support the Region and Business Units plans.
• Develops and executes strategies designed to comply with the business process requirements, improve efficiencies, and generate savings, by reducing costs and procurement related expenses while improving profitability as well as increasing our TWC (Trade Working Capital) aligned with all business unit’s requirements.
• Interacts with Global Procurement IT organization and the other regional procurement areas (NA, APAC, and LATAM) teams by enhancing strategy and leveraging expertise and knowledge of region.
• Manages relationship with suppliers, including supporting the management of the day to day procurement operations issues and escalations.
• Manages and leads all related sourcing tenders and negotiation events, resulted from the development of the category strategy, identification of opportunities, and supports the contractual closing of them and their implementation.
• Works effectively with all business units leaders globally and regionally, to ensure alignment of the global vs. region strategies and adoption of best practices.
• Researches, identifies, negotiates and supports the setup of appropriate IT suppliers by region/country, for the business units, plant operations, distribution centers and branches.
• Develops relationship with business unit regional procurement managers, to effectively leverage expertise across the organization.
• Develops business review formats and common scorecards to evaluate ongoing performance of suppliers.
• Understands IT and related market trends and regulation changes that may affect our business operations, and communicate impacts proactively.
• Maintains regular communication with the Business Leaders and regions to understand business conditions and market trends to support their operations accordingly.
• Stays informed of any changes or updates in laws, tariffs, commodity classifications, and regulations at international, national, and local levels, in order to support the communication of them internally, so that all areas can maintain and understand legal concepts that govern their activities and the purchase and sale of goods and services.
• Establishes and maintains constructive working relationships with corporate business leaders, process owners and purchasing leaders.
  

What do we look for

• Bachelor or Master’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in procurement roles in direct or indirect materials, ideally working in international environment, preferably with experience on Indirect Category Management managing different countries or regions.
• Experience on Category Management of IT Communications, Software, Hardware and Services, is a plus
• Strong analytical skills, including ability to analyze and process spend data reports and related, coming from different ERPs or Power BI data sources among others, and to understand cost structure models from different regions.
• Proven negotiation skills, project management skills, experience managing tenders/sourcing events, proven savings achievements result of sourcing/negotiation events, strategic sourcing mindset, category management concept understanding, and proven supplier relationship management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively across channels, with business unit personnel, Purchasing staff, to achieve understanding of business goals.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written. Long history in communication with senior executive leadership (internal / external) and creation of a collaborative working environment e.g. in engaging and inspiring manner.
• Strong Stakeholder Management Skills across several functional areas or businesses.
• Strong expertize in operating at senior level of business with a global mindset.
• Strong experience working in different environments (e.g. outside of home country, new business unit/entity, different cultures)
• Ability to solve problems that generally require research and creative thought.
• Ability to ensure immediate working environment that encourages innovation and a view beyond comfort zone, to support a variety of senior roles and deliver business value in changing business environments.
• Demonstrates strategic thinking, assumes broad perspective.
• Strong program, projects and process development skills for functional subject areas.
• Strong communication skills in English, both verbal and written

Who we are

Johnson Controls is powered by your talent. We are the power behind the customer mission. Together we are building a world that’s safe, comfortable and sustainable. Our diverse global team creates innovative, integrated solutions to make cities more connected, buildings more intelligent and environments more comfortable and secure. We are all about improving outcomes for our partners. Tomorrow needs your talent. So let’s talk today.