Group Procurement Strategic Manager

**ROLE PURPOSE**:
To support and manage activities as directed by the Procurement Head (in India) to develop sustainable, robust and cost-efficient procurement processes whilst implementing cost savings initiatives contributing to an effective supply chain.

**KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS**:
**Supplier Relationship Management**
- Manage and implement the optimisation strategy aimed at identifying opportunities with suppliers to reduce finished product and materials cost of goods through the effective management of supplier contracts with Group operations stakeholders including members of the relevant category councils and Group Operations SME’s.
- Engage with Group Strategic Manufacturing: Support Services and relevant category councils on all procurement related activities including escalations of business continuity risks and cost associated impacts.
- Manage suppliers with responsible category councils and procurement nerve centers to ensure that supplier deliverables and costing are aligned with group operations expectations.

**Procurement Management**
- Design, oversee the implementation, and manage Aspen Group procurement policies, procedures, and business strategies
- Developing and manage a sound and cost-effective supply base for strategic materials with relevant sites and category councils.
Manage analysis of data from procurement performance measurement systems for cost, supplier, and category council performance to reduce expenses and improve effectiveness
- Ensure purchase requirements for service delivery, goods and services are timeously and consistently available to offer high levels of customer service - align KPI’s with relevant stakeholders for measuring the performance of suppliers and sites.
- Lead and provide analytical insight with regards to negotiations with supplier and third-party service providers
- Early identify, assess, manage, and mitigating risks - managing and analysing procurement risk registers.
- Monitoring and forecasting upcoming levels of demand
- Identifying training needs of self and direct reports to ensure increased stakeholder valueEnsure that all new contracts are reviewed by the responsible legal counsel with relevant input from the Group Strategic Manufacturing: Support Services, category councils, support SME’s (e.g., regulatory, quality and compliance) with a final endorsement from the procurement nerve centre.
- Ensure compliance to BBBEE in South Africa e.g., vendor management process and qualification of vendors.

**Organisational Support & Function Management**
- Manage the implementation of strategic group procurement initiatives by engaging with the relevant category councils.
- Measure and manage category council leads for regular updates of benchmarks used to contribute to the benchmarking process to ensure best pricing for Aspen Group Operations across all categories.

**Procurement Integration for Cost Savings**
- Manage procurement projects and tasks in the Tactical Procurement pipeline.
- Support execution of Strategic Procurement projects managed by Category Managers.
- Run end to end RFX’s (RFP’s, RFI’s, RFQ) in accordance with Category Strategies, Supplier Strategies etc - including market analysis, tender creations, negotiation strategies etc.
- Negotiate agreements and contract and ensure best possible terms and conditions for Aspen; as well as ensure all suppliers are covered by active contracts, in cooperation with Category Managers; legal and other stakeholders.
- Conduct review meetings with key stakeholders in Global Procurement.
- Support with input and new knowledge of supplier market and business need of the category/subcategory in cooperation with Category Managers.
- Participate and provide strategic guidance in Supplier Relationship Management activities (governance, personal meetings, supplier evaluations across Aspen, facilitate and resolve dispute);
- Senior advisor for stakeholders in all the aspects of procurement.

**EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE**:

- Degree in the field of sourcing/ procurement or life sciences
- Project management preferable
- Minimum 15 years of experience
- 10 years of pharmaceutical industry experience with knowledge of cross functional activities - experience with Pharmaceutical Multinationals is an advantage.
- Supply chain integration
- Third party customer management
- Pharmaceutical Project Management
- Change management
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Budget and resource management
- Experience in a global, matrixed organization with experience in and exposure to advanced sourcing strategies
- Ability to lead and influence change in the face of complexity and ambiguity
- Ability to speak and present effectively to peers and Management
- Excellent analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills to manage and resolve highly complex business issues
- Knowledge of strategic sourcing and supplier management concepts
- Strong contract development and negotiation skills
- Lif