Category lead (Procurement)

Closing date for application: 30th December 2024

Salary: Basic salary starting at £70,000 dependant on experience

Department: Procurement

Location: Leeds

Job Grade: M

 

Join Channel 4 as a category lead in Procurement, managing technology projects and building key supplier relationships. Based in Leeds with hybrid working, you’ll help drive value and support innovation in a dynamic team. Be part of a broadcaster committed to excellence and diversity in the creative industries.

Reporting into Finance, Procurement is responsible for the acquisition of all indirect goods & services across Channel 4 and provides commercial expertise to ensure the achievement of Corporation’s strategic objectives. Working primarily within the Technology category, this position will be responsible for the delivery of projects from a Procurement perspective and seek to maximise the delivery of financial and commercial benefits from a TCO perspective.

Please note there are 2 positions available in our Leeds office, working 3 days in the office. 

Reporting into the procurement manager, the category lead will:

• Partner with Technology to contribute to ensuring the on-time delivery of key strategic and operational initiatives.
• Identify and mitigate commercial risks
• Ensure compliance with Channel 4 procurement policy & process.
• The Category Lead will have experience in technology procurement (to include contracting models) and be required to take a proactive and flexible approach as business needs evolve. They will also have some experience in non-technology Procurement categories.

Responsibilities

This role will primarily focus on delivering technology procurement projects to include the following: 

• Advise and support Technology budget holders on the development of supplier strategy, sourcing options and commercial models across the Technology cost base.
• Lead, direct & execute relevant procurement activities such as market analysis, benchmarking & competitive tenders in line with the Channel 4’s Procurement policies and processes.
• Develop, own and manage specific RFPs and associated procurement processes and deliverables
• Build, develop and maintain effective relationships with Technology colleagues and with key suppliers, including support for SRM across the technology supplier base.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the Procurement team
• Undertake additional projects as required by the Procurement Manager

Knowledge, skills and experience 

• MCIPS Qualified
• Experience in technology procurement to include tier 1 vendors
• Experience of managing outsourced relationships
• Strong understanding of contract law (including SaaS contracts)
• Demonstrable experience of leading projects and collaborating proactively with stakeholders at varying levels across organisations.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Proven negotiation skills

Technical & professional Skills

• Excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Strong background in technology procurement with additional experience in non-technology sourcing.
• Excellent communication, organisation and presentation skills.
• Robust understanding of contract law to include SaaS based contracts.
• Effective time management and organisational skills.
• Strong understanding of key technology categories and market influences.

Autonomy/judgement/decision making

• Experience and ability to effectively lead and manage a project team and influence senior technology stakeholders.
• Robust commercial awareness, business acumen and analytical thinking skills.
• Ability to make clear recommendations and respond to strong challenges.
• Relationship Management (internal, external, 3rd parties)
• Customer focussed ethos with the ability to interact across all management levels.
• Successful development of productive working relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Strong verbal and written influencing skills.
• Flexibility in approach.

Complexity/problem solving

• Strong multi-tasking skills.
• Desire to embrace change, successfully adapting to constantly changing demands and conditions.
• Continuous improvement approach to review and develop key services to meet and exceed changing requirements.

Hybrid working:

From September 2023, C4 has operated a 60/40 working pattern, equating to a minimum of three office days per week. Having everyone in the office three days a week gives us more opportunity to build our high performing, inclusive culture; to collaborate and to learn and share with each other, as well as helping to coordinate a regular pattern of home and office working days. Employees then have the flexibility to decide where they spend the rest of the working week. All our offices are open five days a week.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.