Procurement Category Lead

**Job Title**: Category Lead

**Location**: Port of Grangemouth

**Compensation**: £32,000-£35,000

Forth Ports is one of the UK's largest and most dynamic port operator groups, playing a key role in connecting the UK with Europe and beyond. As a multimodal ports owner and operator, we are at the forefront of delivering innovative port-related services. With our recent pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2032 and Net Zero status by 2042, we are committed to sustainability and driving the expansion of the UK's renewable energy sector, particularly offshore wind. Now is an exciting time to join our team as we embark on this transformative journey towards a greener future.

**About The Role**

We are seeking a proactive Category Lead to drive strategic procurement and category management, enhancing value, efficiency, and innovation. In this role, you will build strong supplier and stakeholder relationships, lead negotiations for optimal service and cost balance, and leverage data insights to identify opportunities for greater efficiency across our Scottish operations.

**Your key responsibilities will include**:

- Oversee and manage all existing operational contracts within the assigned category, ensuring they deliver maximum value, efficiency and compliance.
- Develop and implement strategic cost-saving initiatives within the assigned category by identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements, supplier consolidation and value-driven negotiations.
- Ensure that all contracts within the assigned category fully comply with the company’s statutory obligations, health and safety requirements and relevant policies.
- Collaborate closely with key stakeholders, including procurement, finance and operations to conduct in-depth category research and market analysis.
- Lead and manage regular service level reviews with key stakeholders to ensure that supplier performance aligns with contractual agreements, business needs and service expectations.
- Draft, review and refine agreements and contracts to ensure clarity, compliance and alignment with business objectives.
- Oversee and coordinate all activities related to the Purchase-to-Pay system, ensuring seamless procurement processes from requisition to payment.

**What are we looking for?**

This role would suit someone experience within Procurement, who is CIPS qualified, is actively working towards this certification or has equivalent experience, and who is looking for a Category Lead role.

**Skills and experience required**:

- Demonstrated experience in successfully leading and managing product categories, including developing category strategies, analysing market trends and optimising supplier relationships,
- Strong ability to manage supplier partnerships, including conducting negotiations, leading performance reviews and implementing strategic sourcing initiatives to drive value and efficiency.
- Excellent decision-making, communication, negotiation and influencing skills with the ability to effectively negotiate and influence key stakeholders to drive business outcomes.
- Ability to build and maintain strong internal and external relationships at senior and executive management levels.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, with the ability to analyse data and create reports.
- A full UK driving licence is required as some occasional travel across the Scottish Ports may be necessary.

**What can we offer you?**

At Forth Ports, our people are our priority, and we are committed to creating a flexible, open, and supportive working culture. As part of our team, you will enjoy:

- A competitive salary
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 34 days
- A defined contribution pension scheme and life assurance
- Health promotion events and employee wellbeing initiatives
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for you and your family
- Cycle to work scheme and on-site free parking
- Attractive Family Friendly Policies
- Employee discount platform offering discounts on UK-wide restaurants, car rentals, and holidays
- GymFlex health club memberships

**Required Criteria**
- CIPS qualified or equivalent experience
- Proven ability to lead and manage product categories by developing strategies, analysing market trends, and optimising supplier relationships
- Full right to work in the UK
- Full valid UK driving licence

**Skills Needed**

**About The Company**

Over our 50 years of experience we have witnessed our ports grow to become important assets to support and deliver growth both for the UK and local economies.

The growth impact has been achieved due to the continued investments in our infrastructure, making sure that our ports are able to continually develop their services and support the growth of many industries.

Our people have played a significant role. They have delivered the highest quality of service through their expertise, loyalty and flexibility and, without them, we could not have built the strong reputation