OCS
Category Manager - Hard Services
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About The Role:
Role Overview
Reporting to the HOP Hard Services, the Category Manager role has primary responsibility for multiple hard services categories, full ownership and support roles, strategic and operational requirements for supply chain and relationships.
In addition to category ownership, you will support a regional directors and account directors on accounts to reduce the supply chain cost basis for those priority high value client accounts. They will attend periodic client facing calls, create and manage client report outputs, capture savings, cost variances & track cost avoidance, have full ownership of the supplier relationship for that project. They will work closely with the wider Category Management team and key operational stakeholders. The Category Manager will be expected to support the teams with inputs on data and ideas to help create and execute a project plan that to maximise value.
Key Responsibilities:
- Create and execute a category management plan for hard services to reduce total cost, improve quality of supply and mitigate risk within the supply chain
- Regular supplier engagement and management; building strategic, value adding relationships and driving performance through data driven management and relationship building
- Managing and running end-to-end sourcing activities and supporting the Head of Procurement in high risk/value opportunities
- Identifying, evaluating, negotiating and contracting with new suppliers
- Regular benchmarking of current inputs, services and suppliers to ensure our supply chain is delivering maximum value and innovation
- Lead initiatives including rationalisation to increase spend compliance and concentration with preferred suppliers, delivering improved efficiencies and driving category maturity
- Support the development of a preferred supply chain and fixed cost agreements
- Build a plan to exit tail end suppliers and drive spend through strategic sources
- Own strategic supplier relationships holding regular business reviews whilst developing performance data to report back to the business
- Take ownership of suppliers and sub-contractors to support operations
- Support regional directors with customer relations to enhance our service offering
- Able to demonstrate technical procurement knowledge in managing a core category across facilities management service contracts e.g. HVAC, BMS, Energy projects, In-sourcing strategies
- Avoid conflict of interests between personal interests and the interests of the UK & Ireland group.
- Exercise independent judgment, reasonable care, skill and diligence when carrying out their duties.
- Act in good faith and promote the long-term success of each company within the UK & Ireland group for the benefit of all members and wider stakeholders.
- Adhere to and promote the UK & Ireland group’s policies on equality & diversity, information security, health and safety and data protection in the performance of their duties and the management of the departmental functions reporting into them.
- Support and promote the UK & Ireland group’s sustainability plans and policies, including the Carbon Management Plan, and carry out duties in a resource effective way, recognizing the shared responsibility of minimizing negative environmental impacts wherever possible.
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Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
Necessary
- Previous Hard FM experience.
- Project procurement experience.
- Tendering experience.
- Used to working with and negotiating Rebate agreements.
- Category experience or worked with category manager teams & strategy prior.
- Results driven with a flair for negotiation.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Data focused with a proven track record for generating ideas for cost reduction.
- Demonstrable knowledge of owning supplier management and performance measurement.
- A strong team player with the ability to work in a cross-functional team.
- Ability to build sustainable and productive relationships with suppliers.
- Uses data and market research to make recommendations for improvement.
Desirable
- CIPS qualification (Level 4+).
- Security clearance.
Core Expectations:
- Experienced procurement professional with project procurement & mobilisation experience.
- Able to manipulate and analyse data to report back and support the needs of the wider category management team.
- Procurement, Vendor / Supplier Management or similar Commercial Role
- Fast paced, customer service-based organisations, ideally in the FM sector
- Excellent communication skills and influencing skills
- Personal resilience and self-belief
- Accuracy and precision in budgeting and reporting
- Self-Starter with the ability to work with minimal direction and supervision
- High operating standards and levels of expectation
- Forensic eye for detail
- Problem solving and ownership of issues
- Team player, with an interest in providing active feedback in order to develop the team (for the greater good)
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About The Company:
OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.
Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.
Why Work for OCS?
- ✅Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.
- 🚀Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.
- 🙂Retail Perks With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.
- 📝Professional Growth: 600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!
- 💰Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)
How to Apply:
If you are interested in joining a business that encourages professional development, career progression and the chance to work with inspirational people then please click apply and register your interest! You can also sign up to our job alerts when registering which will notify you when other suitable vacancies are available.
We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.
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