Category Manager HR Services

Equans is looking for a Category Manager HR Services to join our team on a permanent basis. This is a full-time role working 37.5 hours per week. On offer is a competitive salary, company vehicle or allowance, bonus and benefits package.

This is a hybrid role

The Category Manager will play a pivotal role in maximising the value of Procurement at Equans UK&I by executing a structured, collaborative approach to category projects that optimises the procurement of similar products and services. 

This pivotal role within the Procurement Function is essential in delivering a unified, centralised support service across a diverse, autonomous, and nationally dispersed organisation. Reporting directly to the Category HUB Leader, the role is specifically accountable for:

• Strategic Management of the HR Services Category: This involves conducting comprehensive spend analyses, assessing current and future business needs, and analysing supplier markets and industry dynamics to optimise procurement strategies
• Supplier Engagement and Relationship Management: Engage with the HR Services supply chain to identify those best positioned to fulfil Equans’ business requirements, overseeing these relationships to ensure continued alignment with quality, functionality, and cost-effectiveness standards
• Value Chain Optimisation and Savings Generation: Proactively identify opportunities to drive value across the entire procurement spectrum, prioritising cost savings through a structured Category approach, with a focus on achieving transparent and measurable results
• Innovation: Champion the integration of innovative solutions to enhance customer offerings within the HR Service categories
• Stakeholder Management

What will you deliver?

• Strategic management of the HR Services category: analysis of spend & business needs, anticipation of future needs, supplier market analysis and market dynamics – Management of the related supply chain, contract extension/renewal, launch and drive end to end RFP/RFQ processes, etc
• Leading the development of procurement strategies in close cooperation with business operations and procurement stakeholders activating all spend reduction levers
• Defining and implementing an action plan to deploy strategies for BUs/entities to effectively reduce their external spend on the category and/or mitigate market increases
• Steering economic performance (external spend reduction), supplier performance on category
• Adapting strategy in response to changes (market, internal budgets, technologies)
• Supporting operational entities in the implementation and monitoring of supplier policy defined for the category
• Assist the Delivery and Commercial teams in efficient subcontract procurement
• Work to and support supply chain deals, working with procurement department to ensure the BU achieves the best potential in terms of supplier arrangements
• Understand and protect the companies commercial and legal position in relation to its contractual engagement with supply chain arrangements clearly setting out the terms and proposals
• Oversee and manage the recovery of retrospective rebates with regards
• Setting annual rebate collection targets
• Promoting rebate arrangements across group to maximise utilisation
• Provide pre-tender specialist commercial input as required to ensure accurate net cost pricing
• Support subcontractor procurement by benchmarking and interrogating costs to ensure additional contribution opportunities are realized (re-invigoration of cost benchmarking database and e-procurement)
• Attend and participate in Design Team Meetings to influence and steer specifications towards most commercially advantageous products
• Maintain and publish regular and accurate reports demonstrating the effectiveness of strategic sourcing arrangements and contribution to the group profit improvement / efficiency plan
• Monitor supplier / category expenditures and trends
• Build and maintain excellent supplier relations

What can we offer you?

On offer is a competitive salary, car or car allowance, bonus and benefits package, which includes;

• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 2 times annual salary
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Holiday purchase scheme
• 2 corporate social responsibility days per year
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalized support programmes
• Attractive Employee Referral Rewards Scheme
• Access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, and Young Professionals.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

Who are we looking for?

• Previous experience in a Senior Procurement role
• Previous experience of stakeholder management and influencing
• Previous experience in developing work winning solutions with operational and business development stakeholders to drive better technical solutions and outcomes
• Proven commercial acumen, with an eye for detail and accuracy
• Familiarity with standard forms of contract
• Proven track record in successful negotiations, balancing cost restraints, customer and practical requirements
• Strong analytical abilities, and the ability to analyse complex category data to drive supply chain selectivity and risk mitigation
• Being capable of contributing to technical discussions specific to the category and supporting the development of valued engineering or alternative product selection

Who are we?

Equans is a world leader in energy services with nearly 100,000 employees working in more than 50 countries, with an annual turnover of over 17 billion euros.  

In the UK & Ireland, Equans is a provider of technical, FM, regeneration and energy services – with specialist capabilities in smart buildings, green mobility, district & embedded energy and decentralised renewables.

Equans’ 13,500 UK & Ireland employees combine these activities to help businesses, public sector organisations and government to embrace the energy transition towards net zero, and also the digital & industrial transitions that are redesigning the way we move, work and live.

Equans is a Bouygues group company.

What’s next?

If this role is of interest to you, please click below to register, apply, and track your progress! A member of our Resourcing Team will review your application and be in touch. 

As part our commitment to better reflect the markets within which we operate, we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010. 

At Equans we’re committed to delivering a culture where everyone’s voice is heard and supported. We know the value a diverse workforce creates, delivering better results for our people, customers, and stakeholders. Diversity and inclusion is at the core of what we do, should you join Equans you’ll find a welcoming and open workplace where you’re supported and encouraged to be your true self at work. 

You’ll also have access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, and Young Professionals.

For this role, you must have evidence of the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a re-location package with this job role.  Certain roles may require applicants to undergo a Disclosure check, as noted in the role requirements.

The Equans Resourcing Team supports this job advert. Agency involvement is not required. All related enquiries must come to the resourcing team not direct to Equans Managers.