Senior Global Category Manager

Our Company
Hitachi Digital is part of the Global Hitachi family. We balance innovation with an open, friendly culture and the backing of a long-established parent company, known for its ethical reputation. We guide customers from what’s now to what’s next by unlocking the value of their data and applications to solve their digital challenges, achieving outcomes that benefit both business and society.

Our people are our biggest asset, they drive our innovation advantage and we strive to offer a flexible and collaborative workplace where they can thrive. Diversity of thought is welcomed and our employee base is represented by several active Employee Resource Group communities. We offer industry leading benefits packages (flexible working, generous pension and private healthcare) and promote a creative and inclusive culture. If driving real change gives you a sense of pride and you are passionate about powering social good, we’d love to hear from you.

The Team

Reporting to the Head of Services Category, Global Procurement, this sourcing professional will be responsible for the strategic sourcing of services and goods for the Facilities, Marketing, Human Resources, and Finance categories in the AMER region. Category Managers are expert practitioners in creating competitive environments and decision making rooted in data analysis. This sourcing professional will also have the responsibility for global category project execution.

The Role

• Serving as a trusted business advisor to stakeholders, providing best-in-class technical consulting from a sourcing and external benchmark/industry perspective.
• Using data analytics, industry benchmarking and strategic sourcing methodologies to provide guidance in the development and execution of sourcing and category strategies, contributing to improved profits and cash flows.
• Managing the development and execution of sourcing projects and initiatives ensuring alignment with the overall priorities and objectives of Hitachi as well as the specific business function.
• Developing and maintaining a best-in-class global preferred supply base for respective areas of responsibility.
• Managing the fundamentals of sourcing and supplier engagement activities, including RFP/RFQ, spend pattern analysis, contract analysis, negotiations and supplier consolidation/rationalization. Ability to develop measurable SLA/KPIs.
• Leading negotiations with suppliers on a variety of contracts, to ensure maximum value and minimum risk to Hitachi.
• Managing strategic supplier relationships with cross functional/cross business impact covering multiple geographies.
• Leading or assisting with the development of process documentation associated with key process improvement leveraging diverse ideas and expertise for category progression.

What You'll Bring

• BS (Business, Economics, Engineering, or Finance).
• 4 - 7 years’ experience in the Procurement of sourcing and category management.
• Solid understanding of basic procurement law with correlating ability to author/negotiate/oversee contracts.
• Experience executing competitive bids (RFPs / RFQs)
• An aptitude to think creatively and work consistently to identify, develop and value driven supplier engagements and you’ll be able to share specific examples to illustrate where and how you have done this
• The ability to navigate complex supplier sourcing and negotiation scenarios and influence key internal and external decision makers to deliver results.
• Strong supplier management skills. Ability to develop senior level relationships with suppliers.
• Proven ability to communicate, influence and build relationships with stakeholders at all levels including C-Suite.
• Excellent negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Strong computer literacy (Microsoft Office Suite), especially Excel

Our Values 
Research tells us that some applicants, especially those from underrepresented groups, can be put off from applying for roles if they need flexibility or feel they don’t meet all of the set criteria. We strive to create an inclusive environment for all and are open to considering home working, compressed/flexible hours. Get in touch with us to explore how we might be able to accommodate your specific needs.
We are proud to say we are an equal opportunity employer and welcome all applicants for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. With Japanese roots going back over 100 years, our culture is founded on the values of our parent company expressed as the Hitachi Spirit:
Wa – Harmony, Trust, Respect
Makoto – Sincerity, Fairness, Honesty, Integrity
Kaitakusha-Seishin – Pioneering Spirit, Challenge

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, place of origin, ethnic origin, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, genetic information, mental or physical disability, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable national, state, or local law.

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