Category Manager – Agency of Record – Aor – Digital Agency

Category Manager – Agency of Record – Aor – Digital Agency

Requirements

• BA or BS required
• 11+ years in category management and/or procurement experience with in-depth knowledge of strategic sourcing, savings delivery, etc. and all relevant systems including Ariba, Link, SAP etc.
• Strong sub-category expertise and proven sourcing track-record
• Experience working in a complex environment
• Exceptionally skilled at stakeholder management
• Strong and proven negotiation and communication skills
• Proven Financial and Business Acumen

Responsibilities

• Lead the translation of the relevant sub-category strategy(s) into day-to-day buying activity through the development and maintenance of best practice buying channels, procurement content (pricing, terms, service catalogues, buying guides etc.)
• Partner with budget holders and buyers within the region’s business to ensure a frictionless, rapid, and effective day-to-day buying experience.
• Lead the creation of statements of work to ensure best possible terms, clarity of deliverables, and maximum value for Takeda, including making representations to business unit leadership that each statement of work is of the expected Takeda standard.
• Work with suppliers to drive high quality statements of work through the creation of templates and standard ways of working
• Responsible for the realization of savings on each day-to-day buy through the effective application of rates, appropriate demand management techniques, and where applicable negotiation with suppliers.
• Deliver contract negotiations on behalf of Takeda to secure favorable terms, pricing and statements of work, while ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
• Lead and facilitate discussions between category leadership, Global Procurement Centre of Excellence, Takeda Business Services (TBS), Legal Operations, Finance, IT and other relevant stakeholders to drive process and systems improvements that create a better day to day buying experience for stakeholders and improves value realization by Takeda.
• Provide regular feedback to category managers on operational buying trends, leveraging all available date, to inform category strategy adjustments
• Monitor supplier performance and escalate issues as required, or resolve wherever possible
• Support the development and implementation of the Category strategy at sub-category levels under the leadership of the Global Category Manager in alignment with organizational objectives, market dynamics and internal stakeholder needs
• Support strategic initiatives within the relevant sub-category (i.e. Category Councils, engagement guidelines, cash flow initiatives, risk management, etc.) ensuring alignment between operational buying activities and the wider category plan
• Support risk identification and mitigation processes to ensure minimal impact to Takeda business processes and reputation
• Support Supplier Relationship Management initiatives across the strategic supply base, reporting on supplier performance, embracing supplier led innovation (where appropriate), issuing constructive feedback and ensuring that any supplier performance risks and issues are resolved on a timely basis to end user satisfaction
• Champion GREFP values and initiatives including supplier diversity and sustainability across procurement, supporting functions and the wider Takeda business
• Help to socialize procurement and category management best practices within the business (i.e. increased utilization of preferred suppliers, SoW optimization and the use of BuyEasy@Takeda etc.) in partnership with the Procurement Lead and Global Category Manager
• Collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders, including business partners, Procurement CoE, Finance and Takeda Business Solutions to ensure alignment
• Clearly demonstrate, actively coach and encourage the team to adopt and embrace the Takeda Leadership Behaviors (Think Strategically, Inspire others, Deliver Priorities, Elevate Capabilities)
• Foster a climate that inspires, enables, encourages open dialogue, feedback and diverse opinions
• Promote collaboration, trust and respect among team members and the wider Takeda business
• Ensure compliance with Takeda training requirements

Preferred Qualifications

No preferred qualifications provided.