Category Manager: Agile (Temporary Cover, 12 months)

Join Us

At Vodafone, we’re not just shaping the future of connectivity for our customers – we’re shaping the future for everyone who joins our team. When you work with us, you’re part of a global mission to connect people, solve complex challenges, and create a sustainable and more inclusive world. If you want to grow your career whilst finding the perfect balance between work and life, Vodafone offers the opportunities to help you belong and make a real impact.

What you’ll do

• Responsible for successful definition, sign-off and execution of category strategy
• Responsible for successful management & delivery of relevant projects in various Local Markets & Partner Markets
• Lead negotiation of relevant projects and contract renewals/amendments and establish herself/himself/themself as a recognised VPC domain expert interacting with local teams & stakeholders
• Deliver the optimal cost of ownership, savings and VPC order intake targets whilst securing the delivery of projects in accordance with strategy
• Deliver innovative commercial models, contributing to the category supplier roadmap and ensuring that longer term sourcing decisions are considered during category development

Impact on the Business

• Manages delivery of global category strategy, Order Intake and saving targets
• Manages global relationship with key category suppliers
• Inputs into reporting against targets as defined by overall SCM goals and objectives
• Manages cost modelling of various scenarios
• Manages aggregation of demand to leverage Vodafone’s global scale and scope
• Accountable for supporting the wider Core, Transmission & Software Team
• Ensures the global category strategy is managed in terms of best practice operation and development
• Challenges current business thinking of requirements and how those requirements can be presented to Suppliers to Vodafone’s advantage
• Manages and ensures the usage of Supply Chain tools, processes, policies and standards
• Responsible for ensuring budget holders requirements are defined and reflected in the Category Strategy 

Budget holders, suppliers and third parties

• Leads RFQ, negotiation and conclusion of contracts with suppliers over major deals working with Legal and internal stakeholders to ensure business requirements are met
• Accountable for managing relationships with and monitoring performance of key suppliers
• Identifies & evaluates potential future global suppliers
• Creates and maintains a supplier database for her/his/their category
• Joint working with Operations and Enablement teams across SCM Community

Leadership and Teamwork

• Cooperates with the local market function and Shared Service Centres
• Supports the wider Core, Transmission & Software team to ensure success is recognised, takes appropriate measures to ensure improvement of day to day operations
• Develops a strong customer focus approach extending it to the whole team

Innovation and Change

• Responsible for developing and delivering the evolution of innovative commercial models
• Able to work & produce innovative solutions for 3rd party customers
• Contributes to best practice and provides input into SCM best practice forum
• Investigates and drives performance improvements on specific opportunities identified within the category with the support of SPM as required
• Works with suppliers to identify innovation opportunities for the benefit of the category and Vodafone

Communication

• Has a clear stakeholder engagement approach supported when necessary with a clear communication plan
• Ensures project team(s) are provided with a clear definition of roles and responsibilities
• Effective influencing of internal stakeholders and external suppliers

Who you are

• Solid experience in Telecoms industry with procurement experience
• Superior degree (technical background would be valuable)
• Track record of delivering against challenging targets
• Track record of successful team work with virtual teams in cross cultural environment
• Well-developed written and verbal communication and executive presentation skills
• Proven data analysis capabilities
• Effective engagement with key stakeholders and ability to communicate and present at senior management level
• Customer obsessed, innovation hungry and embodies behaviours of Speed, Simplicity and Trust
• Experience of working within procurement either at global or local level, technical knowledge of networks & services and possess ability to recommend/drive category transformation
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills in relation to multi-year agreements
• Strong contracting skills – both for initial agreement and ongoing management
• Leadership and teamwork, key focus on collaboration of virtual teams
• Agile – ability to perform category management responsibilities across Core, Transmission & Software Team

Not a perfect fit?

Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly? At Vodafone we are passionate about empowering people and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to still apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another opportunity.

What's in it for you

We want you to feel happy and fulfilled at work, without compromising the other things in life that matter to you. Here are some of the ways we support this:

Generous Annual Leave
•    28 days of annual leave, with the option to buy an additional 5 days and the opportunity to carry over 5 days per year
•    1 additional day (Family Day) for personal milestones or special occasions
•    11 public holidays to enjoy time with family and friends
•    5 charity days per year to give back to the community
Flexible Work Arrangements
•    Flexible working schedule to help you balance your professional and personal life 
•    20 days to work from abroad, allowing you to combine work with travel and new experiences
Comprehensive Health and Wellness
•    Lunch vouchers to support your midday meals
•    Access to private AXA health insurance and a robust pension scheme to secure your health and future
Continuous Learning and Development
•    Access to Vodafone University and online training resources to help you grow your skills and advance your career

Who we are

We are a leading international Telco, serving millions of customers. At Vodafone, we believe that connectivity is a force for good. If we use it for the things that really matter, it can improve people's lives and the world around us. Through our technology we empower people, connecting everyone regardless of who they are or where they live and we protect the planet, whilst helping our customers do the same.

Belonging at Vodafone isn't a concept; it's lived, breathed, and cultivated through everything we do. You'll be part of a global and diverse community, with many different minds, abilities, backgrounds and cultures. ;We're committed to increase diversity, ensure equal representation, and make Vodafone a place everyone feels safe, valued and included.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, please refer to https://careers.vodafone.com/application-adjustments/ for guidance.

Together we can.