Principal Category Manager Marketing

**What you'll do**:
The Principal Category Manager Marketing will be driving all the procurement strategies development and sourcing activities for the Marketing Category, which encompasses Market Research, Creative, Production & Engagement.

The category is strategically crucial to Vodafone, with exposure to Vodafone’s Group Executive Committee, as it builds all of Vodafone’s marketing communications activities which directly impact Vodafone customers. Vodafone spends around €350 - €400 million per year on this area and most of the spending is channeled through VPC for central procurement activities, including the daily management of the strategic procurement outcomes and sourcing processes on behalf of all Vodafone Local Markets.

The role will involve regular interactions with senior stakeholders in local markets (including Consumer Business Unit Directors and Heads of Brand), while working closely with our Group Brand team, local Brand, and SCM teams, as part of a large cross-functional virtual team.

**Sourcing**
- Manage the global creation, finetuning, deployment, and execution of new and existing global sourcing strategies and the category plans to deliver the category-agreed target outcomes.
- Develop and Coordinate the delivery and implementation of sourcing strategy, including strategic negotiations & contractual agreements (with commercial and qualitative elements).

**Stakeholder Management, Supplier Management, Industry Knowhow**
- Establish and continuously develop a highly collaborative operating model with the Group and local Brand teams, Local SCM, and Local Finance, with a focus on cross-functional teamwork.
- Develop long-term partnerships with new and existing agencies, cost controllers, and industry auditors, focusing on overall value, best-in-class quality, and innovation.

**Innovation**
- Manage the development and evolution of the category-specific contracting models and templates, while working in very close collaboration with Legal, Local SCM, and Brand teams.
- Supervise the continuous improvement and innovation of category-specific commercial models, while working in close collaboration with new and existing agencies, industry auditors, Brand teams, Local SCM, and other supporting functions.

**Data management**
- Supervise the delivery of key category financial targets such as centralized spend %, savings, and working capital improvements.

**Who you are**:
**Team Management & Leadership**
- Proven experience as a people manager, and virtual team management within global/cross-function/long-term projects.
- Proven track record of team member success through mentoring/coaching initiatives.
- Management skills demonstrated through category strategy endorsement, markets alignment to global resolution, etc.
- Ability to understand the big picture while being hands-on in category-specific issues.
- Ability to cope with daring objectives/expectations and keep the team momentum within a demanding environment, e.g., no mandate, remote location from stakeholders, significantly complex contracting processes/policies, etc.

**Procurement**
- Minimum 7+ years of procurement experience as part of a regional/global organization with a proven track record of successfully managing complex global categories (across min 10 countries).
- Direct experience in managing marketing categories of min. 3 years (incl. agencies, production, engagement, and sponsorship).
- Very high level of resilience with the ability to manage multiple projects delivery across multiple functions, providing delivery rigor and question, as required, all the while leading, coordinating, and developing a team of category managers.
- Very strong numerical and reasoning skills, generally very good with numbers, at financial reporting and modeling, with the ability to synthesize and present key messages to senior stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills. Effective influencing and persuasion skills, with the ability to engage with virtual teams.
- Excellent negotiation skills combined with the drive to make choices and finalize deals.
- A flexible approach. Intelligent team player, able to engage with business stakeholders at all levels to drive change.
- The ability to think ‘out of the box’ and bring continuous innovation to the area, including benefit opportunities and development of new commercial models, improved contractual terms, improved reporting, scopes, etc.
- English language proficiency (both written and spoken), and extremely proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

**What's in it for you**:

- Discretionary Yearly Bonus
- Annual Leave
- 28 days off (with the option to buy 5 days) + 11 public holidays + the opportunity to carry over 5 days per year
- Charity Days
- 5 paid days per year
- Flexible Working Schedule
- Pension
- State pension matching scheme of up to 8%
- Access to private AXA health insurance and pension scheme
- Access to Vodafone Un