Senior Category Leader - #1748036

Introduction

Discover a one-of-a-kind career. Our vision at Heathrow is to be an extraordinary airport, fit for the future. In the Finance team we know that generating income is critical to driving our business forward, but it’s also vital that we create positive passenger and customer experiences that make every journey better. You’ll help us to get the balance right so we can continue investing in our world-class environment.

There’s something so special about working at the world’s most iconic airport. Heathrow’s size, scale, and reputation for innovation translates to exciting opportunities for everyone. Finance here is about more than numbers. It’s about being influential, developing trusted relationships, and showing the world that we’re a responsible investment with a bright future; a place that embraces digital innovation and has a sustainable mindset. You’ll become part of a team that drives excellence across everything from insurance to investment, treasury to business partnering, as you collaborate widely to deliver projects that directly impact millions of passengers each year.

Job Description

The purpose of this role is to manage an Operational Procurement team, specifically the Security Programme. The role will oversee the sourcing, procurement, implementation, and post-contract management and will involve working closely with senior business stakeholders to create and execute short- and long-term procurement strategies which will best position Heathrow to maximise value delivery, minimise risk and deliver the agreed benefits of the category through cost saving, revenue generation or improved Airport operations.

This role will influence the creation and delivery of overarching operational procurement strategy activities – overarching category strategy including total cost of ownership and market best practise. This will include activity around pre-contract strategies, options, stakeholder consultation, market assessment, sourcing, VFM assessment and ongoing contract management. Alongside the Supplier Management function, this role will also support the business in the creation of baseline estimates for relevant category services through provision of market and supplier intelligence.

The role requires a commercial and market focus awareness. The individual will need to dynamically influence the supply market & internal teams, developing operational procurement strategies and leading negotiations, ensuring on time execution of procurement activities, and closely liaising with the business and delivery leads to drive on time execution of Opex operational contracts for goods and services.

Your role will involve

• Managing the development and delivery of the procurement strategies across Operations, - strategic and operational planning using demand forecasting and market capacity profiling, with responsibility for its successful delivery.
• Leading the development of new innovative strategies which will be presented to relevant senior stakeholders, using creative commercial models, market leading technology and trends that will drive competitive edge for the business whilst maintaining a overall value driven mindset.
• Developing and managing pipeline of procurement activities for a subcategory, create strategic procurement plans and oversee the delivery of financial and non-financial value improvements through the management of end to end third party costs for category.
• Guiding strategic sourcing activities for large value, complex spend areas which align with the business and the broader business / market strategies. This includes the subsequent implementation and oversight of all contracts in terms of variations, claims, contract performance and contract innovation / enhancements. Managing the governance process and liaising with legal teams to ensure compliance.
• Constructively challenging business plans and strategy documents to ensure robustness of approach that maximises commercial opportunity and mitigates risk within stakeholder requirements.
• Engaging regularly with the external market for procurement matters e.g., new commercial models, market shifts, new product offerings, innovation, and trends; bring back best practices and lead initiatives to embed them within the operations.
  
  
  

These Skills Are Essential

• Graduate level supported by full/part professional qualification (CIPS)
• Experience in a related industry with evidence of a Commercial and Contractual bias
• Extensive experience in a variety of Procurement and Contracting models, using a range of reimbursement models
• Experience of delivering Projects to meet business affordability targets
• Experience of working in an integrated project team involving supplier partnering organisations
• Experience in coaching and motivating staff to deliver high levels of performance
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Demonstrable experience of working in a structured process environment supported by an ongoing desire to continually improve
  
  
  

About Us

There’s something so special about working at the world’s most iconic airport. Its sights. Its sounds. Its constant air of excitement. Heathrow is an amazing backdrop to a career filled with unique opportunities.

Every day, you’ll discover a world full of fresh possibilities and end the day buzzing with stories to tell, as you encounter people from all cultures, nationalities and experiences. A world full of pride for what we do and no end of exciting career prospects to explore.

It brings out the best in all of us. And inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we’re working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability.

Join us on that journey and we'll help you achieve your ambitions too. Supporting you to learn, encouraging you to be yourself, backing you to achieve more than you might ever have imagined. Because there’s no place like Heathrow.

Our rewards

We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future. As well as performance-based annual bonuses and our longer-term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market-leading pensions. With family friendly policies, access to private health insurance and a wide range of wellbeing tools, we’ll support you to be at your best inside and outside work. And of course, we’ll provide varied learning and development opportunities too. Here you’ll find everything you need for a fulfilling career journey that can take you in exciting directions.

Working Location

Our Hybrid working approach offers the opportunity for colleagues in some roles to work from home for an average of two days a week, providing the flexibility to work in an agile way whilst ensuring we deliver for the operational needs of Heathrow . Working arrangements vary from team to team and will be confirmed during the recruitment process. You’ll need to be based in the UK and within a commutable distance to Heathrow.

Sustainable Travel to work

Heathrow’s Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger – not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work. With five diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.