Category Lead - Indirect Procurement

Job description

Category Lead - Indirect Procurement

Location: 5, Queensway, Croydon, CR9 4DL

Reports to: Head of indirect Procurement- UK Region

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time Contract  

Your role @ CHANEL:

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing team committed to delivering effective procurement. In the position of Category Lead, you will be a key member of a lean Indirect Procurement team.

Reporting to the Head of Indirect Procurement, the Category Lead provide essential support in the evolvement of the Procurement function and its tools, sharing of best procurement practices and working closely with internal stakeholders to understand their business requirements and how they can be met as part of the global procurement strategy.

What impact you can create at Chanel:

Specifically, the Category Lead is expected to be focused on the categories such as IT & Telecom and Marketing & Communications.  This role will be supporting business teams on the management of the procurement process, from strategic sourcing, professional negotiation, contract management, vendor performance, risk assessment, and overall category management.   They will be expected to provide reporting on their categories and to ensure the relevant documentation is provided to the global IP team. The role is critical in ensuring the business obtains maximum value from its IT investments while aligning with compliance, sustainability and innovation goals.

Key Job Responsibilities

·  Data gathering, analysing, and understanding opportunities and expectations of our internal and external partners
·  Gain knowledge of supplier markets, supply risk levels, assess supplier capabilities, and help define/improve company's panel of suppliers (local, regional, global)
·  Lead sourcing projects of key spend categories ensuring collaboration with internal business partners
·  Identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining high levels of quality and service
·  Support financial analysis and professional negotiation of acquisition cost and other commercial terms to ensure optimal reduction of Total Cost of Ownership
·  As required, act as category lead while working in close cooperation with project teams Key stakeholders such as IT, Finance, Legal and InfoSec teams, in the execution and deployment of sourcing strategies
·  Help develop/review of business cases documenting supplier selection strategies and award decisions to support management review and approval
·  Support vendor management of key suppliers, sometimes possibly acting as corporate Lead Buyer overseeing certain relationships between Chanel and key suppliers
·  Partner with the UK IT Leadership team to forecast procurement needs and build effective procurement roadmaps
·  Act as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders, helping them navigate procurement processes and supplier relationships
·  Drive responsible sourcing, data security compliance and ESG considerations in sourcing activities
·  Improve existing indirect procurement practices, processes, and guidelines as necessary, sensibly combining both best practices and practical business needs
·  Support the implementation of Procurement performance (risks management, financial productivity, top-line benefits, CSR impact) and regional compliance with IP process handbook
·  Help the Head of Indirect Procurement in establishing and driving procurement to pay, end to end policy across the UK.

What you will bring to the role:

·  CIPS qualified
·  A minimum of 3 years all-rounded Strategic Procurement experience
·  Proven track record of building effective working relationships with business partners and external stakeholders (suppliers)
·  Strong understanding of IT Sourcing across Software, Hardware, IT Services, Infrastructure, Telecoms and Digital Services
·  Self-starter, able to manage multiple projects and succeed in a dynamic environment with minimal direction
·  Able to demonstrate business acumen and sensitivity to the changes in the external business, economic and people environment
·  Strong negotiation skills and understanding of contract requirements
·  Expertise in procurement policy, procedures, and processes
·  3 years of experience working within a procurement tool (SAP, Ariba, AX etc) environment at an advanced level

You are energised by:

·  Attempting to make work, and life in general, warmer, brighter, and easier, for those around you
·  Both methodical task and variety in role with challenges you may not have already faced
·  ‘Thinking on your feet’-style problem-solving, whether it be a small and mundane issue or an urgent and complex one
·  Contributing in the on-going and companywide version of sustainability. Sustainability is one of CHANEL’s key performance drivers, embedded into our ways of working we require continued collective action from all employees to deliver on CHANEL’s House Sustainability Ambitions across our four key areas:
·  Restoring Nature and Climate
·  Investing in Circularity
·  Advancing dignity and prosperity
·  Promoting the autonomy of women

What you will gain from this experience:

·  The opportunity to develop, gain experience and grow professionally in the procurement discipline
·  With the breadth of projects, scenarios, and people you will be exposed to in this role, it will help nurture prioritisation, demonstrate the benefits of being solution focused, and illustrate the importance of adding value to the business where possible
·  The chance to work with various teams, on numerous projects, for one of the leading Fashion brands in the world

Benefits at CHANEL:

Our employee benefits have been created to support you across your professional and personal life by offering you:  

·  Physical Wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance covering pre-existing medical conditions and ability to add family members, Online GP App with 24/7 appointments available within 24 hours and Cycle Scheme participation for a tax-exempt bike and/or accessories  
·  Financial Wellbeing: Pension, Life Assurance and Retail Discounts across multiple retailers including Supermarkets, Gyms, Days Out and 100’s more  
·  Mental Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programmes and Other Support Lines  
·  Platforms: Multiple Platforms to support across Wellbeing   
·  Lifestyle: Arts & Culture Ticket Discounts across major London attractions, CHANEL Product Discounts and Employee Only Sales  
·  Employee Recognition: Service Awards Programme offering CHANEL Products, Retail Vouchers and Additional Holidays across milestones  

 *Benefits are eligibility dependent and subject to change at any time   

At CHANEL we are focused on creating an inclusive culture that nurtures personal growth, contributing to collective progress. We believe that the uniqueness of everyone increases the diversity, complementarity, and effectiveness of our team. We strongly encourage your application, as we value the perspective and potential your experience could bring to CHANEL.