Strategic Buyer

Pioneering trusted medical solutions to improve the lives we touch: Convatec is a FTSE 100 global medical products and technologies company, focused on solutions for the management of chronic conditions, with leading positions in advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence and critical care, and infusion care.

Group revenues in 2023 were over $2.1 billion. With around 10,000 colleagues, we provide our products and services in over 100 countries, united by a promise to be forever caring. Our products provide a range of benefits, from infection prevention and protection of at-risk skin, to improved patient outcomes and reduced care costs.

About the role:

This is a key role within the Global Procurement function driving a high-performance culture and setting the standard for excellence. We are looking for an ambitious Strategic Buyer, to help drive Category Strategy through plan implementation as part of our transformation journey.

The Strategic Buyer will be Responsible for the production, approval and delivery of strategic sourcing projects and cost reducing process / supplier improvement projects, and the Source to Contract process working closely with Category Managers and project stakeholders.

As a member of this team, you will be expected to develop, outline, and execute projects in accordance with agreed upon deliverables, timings, and budgets.

Your Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead component Sourcing activity in support of Advanced Operations (AO) and Life Cycle Management (LCM) programmes, in line with the defined Category Strategy.

• Run RFQs and RFPs for the Category Team to support the Category Strategy and Programme sourcing processes.

• Work with relevant Category Director(s)/Category Manager(s) to ensure a fully integrated and customer/business-aligned Convatec-wide category plan for assigned spend area(s).

• Engaging with key category stakeholders and suppliers to develop global sourcing strategies, aligned to the category strategy, to drive savings and value for the company (could include revenue protection).

• You will manage customer and supplier relationships to ensure that Category & Sourcing Strategies are highly aligned to current and future Business needs and that the supply base is capable of supporting these strategies.

• Responsible for the Source to Contract (S2C) process, including souring strategy execution (e.g. RFP/E-Auction), evaluation, recommendation, and award.

• Identifying and driving continuous improvement initiatives that will generate value through increase supplier performance and/or capabilities.

• Develop contracts, agreements, and sourcing strategies for the supply of materials/products and services.

• Develop, evaluate, or manage internal and external relationships with suppliers and other cross-functional teams.

• Propose and implement improvements & innovations within the assigned spend area(s).

About You:

• 3 years + working within a Strategic Procurement/Sourcing environment, employing a formal category/sourcing management process (preferably in a similar regulated industry), with MCIPS to level 4.

• An understanding of Category Management principles with knowledge of how to define a strategy and experience of how to translate it into actionable plans and manage these plans through to implementation.

• Experience working with e-procurement tools to find, evaluate & select the best vendors to drive savings, increase value & manage risk.

• Able to demonstrate the values and behaviors required to be successful in the role and support the Convatec ‘Forever Caring’ Promise.

• Excellent inter-personal & communication skills.

• Results and solution oriented, with a focus on meeting required targets and deadlines.

• Possess ability for analytical problem-solving and analysis/interpretation of complex problems, incorporating data gathered from a variety of sources/software tools.

• Understanding of financial principles, resource planning and allocation, to support delivery of a Category Plan to deliver cost management, resilience and continuous improvement.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate to a diverse audience, at multiple levels within the company using a variety of formats, presentations, emails, leading meetings, face to face, etc.

• Able to negotiate with suppliers on all commercial and contractual matters and apply judgement as to what constitutes an acceptable level of contractual risk and supply resilience.

• Able to promote and foster new ideas and strategies among internal and external stakeholders, challenging the status quo with sustainable solution(s).

• Must be able to work with a range of technically and culturally diverse people, influencing them to achieve goals in a timely manner to help drive business results. Must demonstrate and apply analytical as well as strategic thinking skills, support teamwork, show exceptional judgment, collaboration, decision-making, and can work independently.

Working Conditions:

• Hybrid working or home based with regular visit to ConvaTec site as required.