Category Manager – Travel; Fleet; Meetings and Conventions

Job Summary Description: This position will lead the Travel, Fleet, Meetings and Conventions category team and is primarily responsible for the procurement of these services. This position will develop, implement and/or manage the Purchasing process through procurement, relationships, sourcing/technology, and forecasting/strategies. This role may manage one or more categories of spend.

Major Responsibilities
Demand Side Role:
Key Stakeholder Management:
- Form a partnership with the Business Leader for your category of spend sharing the ownership and accountability for driving and delivering results in accordance with the category plan.
- Work with the Global Category Leader, as appropriate, assuring proper information is shared and leveraged across geographies. Work with the Category Portfolio Manager(s) to develop and maintain the category strategy and plan in accordance with AstraZeneca?s category management process.
- Gain Business Champion approval for the Category Plan

Category Team:
- Drive the team to develop Category Strategy (Vision) that describes how this category of spend will be managed and develop a Category Plan that defines how the strategy will be implemented and the Vision achieved.
- Develop a balanced plan with short and long term objectives aimed at achieving the agreed upon vision for each category (as appropriate)
- Work issues, develop resolutions, and manage corrective actions

Supplier Management:
- Develop a preferred supplier list by niche service within the category of spend
- Manage compliance and non-compliance to the preferred supplier list
- Conduct supplier business review meetings in support of category strategy

Performance Tracking and Reporting:
- Ensure Category Team KPI?s are built and reported locally and globally and manage the reporting process
- Ensure ?Actual Benefits? are properly approved and reported on a monthly basis
- Validate compliance reports and insure timely review and submission

Supply Side Role:
Procurement:
- Establish procurement plans, determine appropriate methods and make decisions necessary to purchase products and services in accordance with organizational objectives and sourcing strategies.
- Review complex contracts and purchasing requisitions in accordance with organizational and budget requirements
- Develop and review specifications, statements of work, performance terms and/or acceptance criteria.
- Locate and select potential sources of materials and/or services and perform cost benefit analysis on planned acquisitions.
- Prepare and solicit competitive bids, quotations and proposals and evaluate competitive offerings to determine the overall best offer for a product or service.
- Prepare, issue and obtain legal review for contracts and purchase orders for approval when required.
- Administer complex contracts and purchase orders from award to completion.
- Resolve contract, payment and purchase order differences with suppliers.
- Understand contract terms and conditions with the ability to clearly communicate and support AstraZeneca?s position.

Relationships:
Develop, evaluate or manage internal and external relationships with suppliers and cross-functional teams with regard to the following:
- Review supplier samples and/or demonstrations with the buying organization management and user departments.
- Manage and develop lists of recommend supply sources.
- Develop strategies and tactics for conducting negotiations with potential or current suppliers to obtain maximum value.
- Measure supplier performance and manage the list of recommended sources.
- Recommend or implement changes to the Purchasing policies and procedures and provide training as needed to user departments and others as needed.
- Utilize techniques such as supplier partnerships, strategic alliances, supply chain management and supplier training programs.
- Review product availability and/or pricing information with suppliers.
- Manage relationships with user departments, Legal & Finance departments to insure successful and timely completion of contracts and business agreements.
- Conduct decisions to make, buy, lease or outsource products or services.
- Develop financing and leveraging strategies.

Technology:
- Utilize a computerized purchasing system, database of specifications, suppliers, products/services, computerized inventory, and/or capital equipment tracking system.

Forecasting and Strategies:
- Represent the buying organization in meetings with corporations, government agencies, professional associations, media and other organizations.
- Develop and/or implement value objectives.
- Develop and maintain market awareness through merchandise shows, trade periodicals and other resources to secure new products and pricing information.
- Provide data on current and future market conditions to management, sales management and/or user departments.


Responsibilities

- Bachelors Degree
- 5-7 years work experience
- 2-4 years purchasing experience
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Power Point and Excel
- Proved ability to manage multiple projects/tasks effectively
- Demonstrated experience in negotiating Master Service Agreements, Professional Service Agreement and Statements of Work

Preferred Background
- Industry and/or commodity experience related to Travel, Fleet, Meetings and Conventions
- Strong analytical and financial skills
- Demonstrated success working in a team environment
- Management experience
- Technology skills ? Ariba, SAP, Microsoft Office Suite
* Proficiency or ability to quickly become proficient in the Ariba Suite of tools and SAP