Global Category Manager - Hartlepool

Global Category Manager jobs

Category management in the procurement field is overseeing the acquisition of certain classes of goods or materials, often those that are somehow interconnected or interdependent. In larger companies and/or those where sourcing is international, an additional layer of management, the global category procurement manager, might be inserted.

Depending on how advanced the existing procurement is, the global category manager might be required to develop an entire global category procurement strategy or manage the one that is already in operation within a set of guidelines. Either way, the aim will be to reduce costs to the company, which will be achieved by negotiating deals and rates with supplier, forming partnerships and constantly analysing the market in which he or she is working.

A general aim will be to reduce or limit costs wherever possible, both within the employing company through systems, staffing and prudent economising and through the act of procurement itself. The global category manager will have to implement a worldwide plan of action throughout the company. This can mean seeking to impose consistency internationally to meet the results of forecasting, planning and analysis. But it can also involve the exact opposite: tailoring different procurement strategies to the different market environments to take advantage of local efficiencies.

The skills required

Management level experience would be a prerequisite a job of this level, and many employers will demand a bachelor’s degree, MBA or other recognised business qualification. A proven ability to communicate ideas and complicated instructions to the team will be required, and only people with an analytical mindset will we able to cope with such work.

Owing to the international nature of the job, language fluency would be extremely useful, as would a willingness to work abroad, often for long periods. A thorough understanding of the market in which the company seeks to procure materials and goods will probably be requested too, although this could be counterbalanced by excellence in procurement in another field.

An ability to fully understand the implications of contracts, and possibly the ability to draw them up from scratch, will also be an essential personal ability.

Global Category Manager Jobs in Hartlepool

The town of Hartlepool grew up around a monastery and abbey in the 7th century, and the population grew slowly to about 900 by the early 1800s. As the town grew, however, so did the docks, and its importance as a dock became larger when the railways arrived in the mid-1800s, connecting the town to the cities of the North West of England. This pushed Hartlepool to another level, and before long many shipping companies were setting up there.

Industry was soon to follow, with ironworks and shipyards locating in the town, which to this day boasts Europe’s largest dry dock. Able UK operate a facility just outside the town which is now used for decommissioning massive vessels such as aircraft carriers and freight ships. Together, the engineering sector employs close to 2000 people in the town. There is also a nuclear power station, an advanced gas-cooled reactor type, which since its opening in 1983 has become the town’s single largest employer. It is due to close down in the mid to late 2010s, but another plant is planned.

There is a lot going on in Hartlepool, and it’s a diverse place to live in, with jobs related to the heavy industry, maritime work and the usual high street and local shops and service industries that keep the town thriving. It’s a great place to look for a Global Category Manager job, as this diversity throws up many possibilities in the logistics, procurement and supply chain fields.

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Cast UK’s procurement opportunities

Cast UK were founded by specialists in logistics, supply chain and procurement, and our consultants are also drawn from these backgrounds, so we know what employers and candidates are looking for when they come to us. In fact, employers often approach us to find managerial and executive candidates before they are advertised, so if you’re in procurement, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Whether you’re relocating for personal reasons or are simply looking for more job fulfilment, there could well be an employer who’s looking for the skills you have. At any given time, Cast UK have jobs all over the UK, so wherever you live, or plan to live, we are well placed to find work that suits your skills.

To find out more about how Cast UK can help you recruit a Global Category Manager for your business or find you a job as a Global Category Manager then contact one of our consultant team on 0333 121 3345.

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