Procurement Category Buyer

Introduction

Your Role And Responsibilities

• Execute competitive bid events, benchmarking projects
• Analyze changing client/market conditions
• Support sourcing projects based on client requirements
• Communicate and negotiate with clients and suppliers through all levels of organization
• Perform periodic analysis within managed commodity scope to identify savings, define efficiency opportunities and initiatives that should be undertaken
• Optimize supply base opportunities across managed commodities
• Take category guidance from the Category Manager
• Support client specific category strategy – redirect spend through strategic contracts/channels as appropriate
• Educate and advise clients and suppliers on strategies
• Interface with strategic sourcing team to implement strategic contracts
• Promote process efficiencies through focus on automated channels where applicable
• Identify appropriate potential suppliers to fit client’s business objectives
• Negotiate and contract with exception suppliers driving additional savings and value
• Track savings in the appropriate tool and store evidence for audit purposes
• Communicate sourcing instructions to the operations buyers
• Communicate supplier recommendations to clients based on objective criteria and fit for client business
• Track and report supplier performance and resolve any supplier performance issues in conjunction with the Category Manager
• Identify any exception opportunities to the Category Managers and make recommendations on strategic approaches that might be taken
• Interact with parallel organizations in other geos to assure consistent global approach
• Act in compliance with all relevant IBM business conduct guidelines and client driven procurement processes
  

Preferred Education

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• The candidate must have a working knowledge of a global procurement strategy within a large corporation and have a background in one or more of the following indirect categories: Professional services, Facilities, MRO, Marketing, Engineering, Information Technology, Software, Sales, Human Resources
• Apply analytical skills, numerically astute with strong demonstrated problem-solving abilities
• Apply communication skills, able to build and maintain effective and productive relationships with staff, stakeholders and suppliers
• Apply collaboration/teaming techniques
• Perform in matrix organization
• Perform time management, priorities tasks and achieve set targets
• Apply Knowledge of Business Organization and Processes, Work instructions
• Apply Business Control Requirements
• Apply customer satisfaction skills / client facing skills
  

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Ability to complete staff-work to a high standard
• Keen attention to detail and accuracy