Assistant Category Manager

As an experienced professional in the shipping industry, you will be responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of the annual procurement strategy for Synergy. This includes providing input to the overall category strategy by projecting annual purchase plans and items within your designated category. Drawing insights from historical purchase data and industry trends, you will collaborate with the Head of Category to align the category plan with the procurement strategy. Your role will involve identifying and sourcing potential suppliers within your category, managing a supplier database, and shortlisting qualified suppliers based on RFQ specifications and assigned budget. Additionally, you will be tasked with meeting category saving targets set by the Head of Procurement, developing negotiation and cost comparison strategies, and tracking actual spending against targets to ensure the success of category saving efforts. Driving continuous improvement within the department is a key aspect of your responsibilities. You will work with the Head of Category Management and department employees to identify and implement improvements in policies, processes, and technological infrastructure. Monitoring adherence to timelines and budgets for improvement projects and reporting progress to management will be crucial. In your day-to-day operations, you will lead negotiation efforts between Synergy and suppliers to control costs and strengthen professional relationships. Collaborating with Purchasing Officers and Technical Assistants, you will ensure accurate purchase orders are developed based on agreed-upon contracts. Managing costs and ensuring department operations adhere to the budget will also be part of your accountability. Furthermore, you will play a role in developing the capabilities of junior team members through mentorship and feedback. Your ability to maintain relationships with internal stakeholders such as the Head of Procurement and Head of Category, as well as key external stakeholders like suppliers, will be essential in carrying out purchasing activities efficiently. To excel in this role, you should have 8-9 years of experience in category management within the shipping industry or a technical background related to equipment maintenance and repair. Experience in dealing with Direct Categories is advantageous. Your analytical skills, ability to build cost models, expertise in negotiation, and understanding of operational requirements in ship management will be critical for success. A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or related fields is required for this position.,