Procurement & Contractor Management Category Assistant

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Category Assistant, to work for a well-known global real Estate service provider. Based in Manchester, the successful Category Assistant will earn a starting salary of between £18,000 to £22,000, depending on skills and experience.

As a Category Assistant, you will lead and deliver a professional Procurement service with a focus on the agreed service line, driving year on year improvements in service and cost savings.  Reporting to the Category Manager, your core duties will include, but not be limited to: 

• Implementing group sourcing strategies, by helping to develop and implement the contracts and Call Off Orders / Purchase Orders through agreed processes and systems across the business.
• Working independently and with Assistant Category Managers / Category Managers to ensure that appropriate PO’s are in place in line with the Procurement Policy spend thresholds and agreed timescales.
• Monitoring new vendor set up forms with regard to vetting of potential vendors, anticipated annual spend and identify anomalies.
• Supporting or leading all aspects of the low-level sourcing process including analysing data and supply markets, supplier research, organising specifications, preparing RFQ/RFP documents, negotiations, query resolution and updating relevant systems.
• Assisting departments to better control costs and improve services within their budgets and to give direction and guidance to business areas to ensure value for money.
• Reviewing spend and vendor performance across service line areas ensuring that appropriate contracts are in place as outlined in the company Procurement Policy
• Providing administrative support to service line team.
• Responding to ad hoc queries from stake holders.
• Developing service line knowledge of all relevant legislation, industry standards and best practice.
• Promoting the development of good relationships throughout Savills and SMR.
• Ensuring issues are appropriately addressed in conjunction with the Category Manager and relevant stakeholders.
• Deputising for the Assistant Category Manager and complete necessary tasks where appropriate.

To be considered for the Category Assistant you will ideally possess the following key skills and experience, however full training will be given for the technical side of the role:  

• Highly motivated, good team worker with a flexible approach to work
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Keen to learn and good at problem solving
• Prioritising work to meet deadlines
• Desire to provide the highest level of service
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills
• Computer literate with good knowledge of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word applications
• Able to analyse numerical data (desirable)
• Proven track record of communicating at all levels (desirable)
• Knowledge of CAFM systems (desirable)
• Knowledge of property sector (desirable)

If you are interested in the opportunity to become a Category Assistant, and join a leading global property management company, based in Manchester, please apply by submitting your CV and cover letter detailing your experience and suitability for this role.