Product & Procurement Manager

Reporting into a Senior Director, the Product & Procurement Manager is a key management role within the RS Safety Solutions business, as part of a category team you will work in close collaboration with the extended end to end functions to execute the commercial strategy by helping to grow and manage our product & supplier base.

Supporting the development of the category’s defined product portfolio throughout its lifecycle, you will use data to drive ranging decisions, execute high-quality product launches, optimize performance throughout the ranges mature stages and effectively protect sales during end-of-life stages.

What will you be responsible for?

Category strategy, planning and execution on behalf of RS Safety Solutions
Manage vendors to gain competitive advantage and high level of performance through advanced negotiation and relationship management skills
Support with expansion of key activities across Europe
Development of supplier strategies and business plan
Category management inc. lead on supplier negotiations and development of an online portfolio
New Product Development (NPD) aligned to customer requirements
Financial responsibility of c.£10-20m dependent on portfolio
Identify/execute savings projects c. £200k p/a
Sourcing private label products balancing price / quality
Managing regulatory requirements - PPE regulations - Working with notified bodies and regulatory authorities such as BSIF, Trading Standards, etc., to ensure compliance to the relevant regulation and EN standards
Implementation of strategic projects
Managing category driven marketing campaigns
Delivery of effective and timely support materials - presentations, literature etc.
Prepare data to support supplier meetings
Manage the product life cycle for aligned portfolio

What are the key deliverables of the role?

A product range and supplier portfolio fully aligned to customer needs
Product range growth by supplier and product segment
Effective lifecycle management from product launch to end-of-life management
Effective execution of key processes, e.g., new product introductions, analysis, reporting, price reviews
Support the delivery of category KPIs:
Revenue
Margin
Return on Investment
Customer acquisition
Number of products sold
New product introduction revenue
Supplier investment (SIR) & cashflow performance
Inventory availability, value and health (OSPA, Availability, Stock Turns)
Private label (RS Pro) share of category
Influencing NES and NPS scores

What experience would I need to be considered?

Strong negotiation skills
Supplier Relationship/Management (multi-site business)
Strong stakeholder management/communication
Experience of testing and certifying safety products to EN standards
Knowledge and understanding of EN standards and publication versions
Experience of sourcing with national and independent suppliers
Sharp eye for detail and accuracy
Exceptional organisation skills and the ability to prioritise workload
A methodical and processed approach to work
A polite and professional attitude

Anything that would be outstanding to have?

PPE Regulation & Directive understanding

A bit about us

RS Safety Solutions are a part of the RS Group (formerly Electrocomponents) who are a global integrated omni-channel solutions partner for industrial B2B customers who Manufacture, design, build, and maintain industrial products and equipment. We are a FTSE 100 company with £2 billion in revenue, operating in 32 countries, shipping 60,000 parcels a day to over 1.2 million customers worldwide.

Our Vision is to be first choice provider of Personal Protective Equipment for all our stakeholders, and we know that starts with our people. At RS we want everyone to show up to work as themselves and know that they will be supported and encouraged to develop and grow. We want work to be a place that excites and empowers, a place where you can be passionate and challenge people to think differently.

We want to hire the best talent, people who share our values and understand that when we act with respect and humility, we can do great things. That’s why we’ve put our purpose at the heart of our organisation, we want to make amazing happen for a better world. We empower our people to make a difference, innovate to make more possible and deliver to make it happen.

Are you ready to explore the possibilities?