Market Category Specialist, Marketing - Customer (West & Central) at Diageo

About the role:

• Deliver Procurement outcomes for Diageo within Marketing (specifically BTL) category, through effective business partnering and collaboration across Procurement CoEs.  This includes (but is not limited to):
• Applying strategic procurement excellence, through creation of or support in creation of category strategies built on Diageo’s best methods, standards and tools, to deliver procurement value.
• Leading or supporting Sourcing activities for Experiential, POS related spend procured in Market.
• Supporting end-to-end execution of marketing category strategies, working with global and other market category professionals in line with strategy.
• Developing subject-matter expertise for specific spend categories, supporting collection and leverage of supply market expertise and clear direction to Analysts for development and application of supply market data and information to strategy development and sourcing.
• Work dynamically across categories in flexible resource pools where they are already established & pro-actively look for opportunities where flexible resourcing could be set-up. This is a resourcing approach intended to smooth out peaks & troughs of demand and drive accelerated career development.
• The Market Category Specialist is accountable for active participation in a global community of procurement professionals in one or more spend categories, including joining regular meetings, supporting alignment around strategy, supporting development of own and others’ capabilities & expertise and sharing of standard processes.

Role Responsibilities:

• Applied expertise.  Build, manage and grow expertise in Below the Line Marketing category, including understanding of supply markets, suppliers, collaborators and how to negotiate supply and demand.  Become a subject-matter expert and share with others in a global community of category professionals.  Apply expertise and standards to identify and win new value for Diageo.
• Category excellence.  Lead development of best in class market data and knowledge, category strategies and sourcing events by applying Diageo standards for category excellence.  Contribute to improvement of existing and development of new tools & techniques.

Category strategy

• Business partnering.  In close alignment with category managers, develop and grow relationships with collaborators, partners and suppliers for deeper insights into needs and capabilities; articulate requirements and deliver insights for greater value from stakeholder collaboration.
• Strategy development.  For one or more spend categories, support development and evolution of category strategies by (1) capturing, articulating and confirming business requirements; (2) researching and analyzing market dynamics; and (3) assessing opportunities and proposing solutions.
• Best in class capabilities.  Generate insights and opportunities from internal and external benchmarking, develop cost models to consider scenarios with suppliers and collaborators and build & evolve analytics capabilities that allow regular review and improvement of strategies.
• Strategy execution.  Support end to end execution of category strategies across geographical and organizational boundaries.  Track and monitor progress against performance goals, providing detailed, monthly KPI data (including reconciliation to category team tracking projects, savings, supplier performance, etc.).  Work in close collaboration with other Market colleagues aligned behind relevant strategies and facilitate escalations. 
• Support to Global CoEs.  Support Global CoEs with strategy development.  Especially, ensure that Market and local market data and requirements are addressed fully.

Sourcing

• Market sourcing.  Implement sourcing activities for Below the Line related service. – Experiential, POS etc.
• Market contracting.  For relevant sourcing projects, support effective planning, preparation and application of the Negotiation Toolkit.  Support category managers in negotiating and closing Marketing contracts.  Complete contracts into the system.  Manage contracts and contract compliance (Diageo stakeholder compliance and Supplier compliance) through contract lifecycles.

Risk management

• Mitigate strategic risks.  As part of category strategy execution, identify, record and follow-up risk mitigations in line with category strategies and standard methodology.
• Mitigate sourcing risks.  Identify corporate, supply, supplier and other risks associated with sourcing activities, put mitigations in place and implement them, engaging all relevant stakeholders, partners and suppliers to ensure the mitigations are successful.
• Apply and improve tools & techniques.  Apply Diageo protocol standard, ensuring the most recent and relevant approaches are always applied; use formal governance and peer review to ensure the quality and efficacy of risk management; contribute to development of standards.

Supplier relationship management

• Supplier relationship.  Establish standards, ways of working and trust relationships with market suppliers and agencies in relevant categories; ensure Diageo standard processes are applied and that there is a good foundation for strong performance, risk mitigation and rapid resolution of issues.
• Supplier performance.  Set critical metrics, driving consistency across suppliers and markets, improving the value of data generated and applied and liaise with Supply sites for resolution of raised issues.
• Supplier development.  In line with Procurement strategic supplier strategies, collaborate with suppliers to unlock breakthrough opportunities for the business; stimulate supplier capabilities to generate ideas for the future.

LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

• Win through Execution. Flexible, agile & resilient, adapting plans in the face of change. Track record of execution in a business undergoing transformation. Always scanning opportunities to simplify.
• Inspire through Purpose. Restless in creatively thinking outside of the box and taking thoughtful risks, always working to bring others with you. Amplifies Diageo’s purpose.
• Shape the Future. Not afraid to challenge the status quo, challenge complacency, develop ambitious plans and bring clarity to others. Drives collaboration in reaching a common understanding of the future. Easily develops positive connections, engaging collaborators in your vision.
• Invest in Talent. Eager to stretch yourself and encourage others to do the same. Pro-actively drives diversity at Diageo in all its forms.

Experience / skills required:

• Graduate or equivalent qualification and member of professional body, e.g., CIPS
• Minimum 2 – 3 years’ experience in Procurement, Experiential Marketing agency, Marketing, Below the Line Marketing, FMCG Commercial or other relevant role.
• Demonstrated performance in projects and in cross-market teams, experience developing and delivering Marketing category and procurement strategies, managing and negotiating with suppliers
• Strong analytical and financial awareness including a strong understanding of AOP requirements and financial goals & value drivers relevant to the categories in scope
• Track record of generating insights to influence decision-making; good commercial foresight
• Good systems knowledge (esp. SAP, PRDM, M/S Office, E-collaborate or similar systems & tools)
• Strong verbal, written and presentation; strong interpersonal skills
• Proven track record of consistent performance and delivery