Category Manager

Contract

This is a World Bank Group grade: EC2 contract. More about World Bank Group grade: EC2 contracts.

Category Manager

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org.

Unit Overview:

The Corporate Procurement Unit is responsible for the procurement of goods, works and services (including consulting services) to support the WBG’s 130+ offices around the world. Corporate Procurement manages an annual spend around USD 2B with around 25,000 vendors. The team has staff located in Washington, DC, USA; Chennai, India; and Sofia, Bulgaria. Corporate Procurement utilizes category management to achieve better outcomes, improved quality, greater savings, efficient use of resources, a better understanding of the market, and an increased focus on collaboration and innovation. Corporate Procurement focuses on three key principles: Commerciality, Risk Management, and Environmental, Social, and Governance outcomes. Categories of spend include: i) Corporate Services and Real Estate; ii) Human Resources and Professional Services; and iii) Technology. To learn more about Corporate Procurement, visit: CP website.

Roles and Responsibilities: The Procurement Specialist (Category Manager) position is located at the Corporate Procurement Corporate Services and Real Estate (CSRE) team in Sofia, Bulgaria. This position reports to the Senior Procurement Specialist, who in turn reports to the Chief of Corporate Procurement.

Responsibilities include being a valued business partner to clients, understanding business needs, developing annual procurement plans, conducting internal (e.g., data-driven; category spend, client strategies, stakeholder analysis, and SWOT), and external analysis (e.g., market research & forecast, market share & trends, benchmarks, cost drivers), advising clients on market trends, and influencing change with the intent to maximize value for money while managing risks and maximizing impact on sustainability.

The position for the category team requires in-depth knowledge of sourcing construction, facility management, security, transportation and managed services and skills to lead sourcing initiatives from business needs to contract closeout including conducting negotiations, and dispute resolution; collaborate with business partners; and advise colleagues in WBG office worldwide on policy related matters. The category includes, but is not limited to construction and facility management, travel, security, food conference and events, printing and publishing, transportation, shipping and logistics, language services, health services, corporate services and audio-visual services.

Key accountability for this position includes: • Conducts procurement, sourcing, and category management activities required by the World Bank Group globally. • Understands client’s needs, generates solicitations, and manages bidding process for assigned areas; collaborates with clients in developing procurement plans; carries out market research to identify sources of supply; reviews technical specifications for completeness and competitive qualities; develops vendor pre-qualifying and evaluation criteria; prepares contracts; and engages vendors in process discussions. • Negotiates contract terms and conditions for the assigned categories. • Category management of designated categories. • Monitors vendor commercial performance. • Conducts research, trend analysis and benchmarking in international markets including category management. • Leads/guides remotely located teams in performing medium to complex procurements. • Liaises with clients in preparation and delivery of presentations to Procurement Committees. • Undertakes activities to ensure compliance with World Bank Groups’ policy. • Provides guidance and direction to Project Managers on commercial contract management issues. • Designs innovative solutions for medium to complex solicitations for large dollar and through a service risk-based approach. • Possesses an expert level understanding of commerciality and ability to demonstrate achieving value for money through strategic planning, solicitation, and negotiations. • Maximizes positive impact on sustainability (diversity, environment, social responsibility) through the sourcing process and category management. • Possesses a good understanding of risk management, analyses risks, and works with business partners to mitigate risks through sourcing and managing risks during category management.

Due to the requirements of the job, this position may require frequent adjustments to the work schedule created by the time zone difference with many of the clients it supports and may also involve a limited amount of travel.

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org.

Unit Overview:

The Corporate Procurement Unit is responsible for the procurement of goods, works and services (including consulting services) to support the WBG’s 130+ offices around the world. Corporate Procurement manages an annual spend around USD 2B with around 25,000 vendors. The team has staff located in Washington, DC, USA; Chennai, India; and Sofia, Bulgaria. Corporate Procurement utilizes category management to achieve better outcomes, improved quality, greater savings, efficient use of resources, a better understanding of the market, and an increased focus on collaboration and innovation. Corporate Procurement focuses on three key principles: Commerciality, Risk Management, and Environmental, Social, and Governance outcomes. Categories of spend include: i) Corporate Services and Real Estate; ii) Human Resources and Professional Services; and iii) Technology. To learn more about Corporate Procurement, visit: CP website.

Roles and Responsibilities: The Procurement Specialist (Category Manager) position is located at the Corporate Procurement Corporate Services and Real Estate (CSRE) team in Sofia, Bulgaria. This position reports to the Senior Procurement Specialist, who in turn reports to the Chief of Corporate Procurement.

Responsibilities include being a valued business partner to clients, understanding business needs, developing annual procurement plans, conducting internal (e.g., data-driven; category spend, client strategies, stakeholder analysis, and SWOT), and external analysis (e.g., market research & forecast, market share & trends, benchmarks, cost drivers), advising clients on market trends, and influencing change with the intent to maximize value for money while managing risks and maximizing impact on sustainability.

The position for the category team requires in-depth knowledge of sourcing construction, facility management, security, transportation and managed services and skills to lead sourcing initiatives from business needs to contract closeout including conducting negotiations, and dispute resolution; collaborate with business partners; and advise colleagues in WBG office worldwide on policy related matters. The category includes, but is not limited to construction and facility management, travel, security, food conference and events, printing and publishing, transportation, shipping and logistics, language services, health services, corporate services and audio-visual services.

Key accountability for this position includes: • Conducts procurement, sourcing, and category management activities required by the World Bank Group globally. • Understands client’s needs, generates solicitations, and manages bidding process for assigned areas; collaborates with clients in developing procurement plans; carries out market research to identify sources of supply; reviews technical specifications for completeness and competitive qualities; develops vendor pre-qualifying and evaluation criteria; prepares contracts; and engages vendors in process discussions. • Negotiates contract terms and conditions for the assigned categories. • Category management of designated categories. • Monitors vendor commercial performance. • Conducts research, trend analysis and benchmarking in international markets including category management. • Leads/guides remotely located teams in performing medium to complex procurements. • Liaises with clients in preparation and delivery of presentations to Procurement Committees. • Undertakes activities to ensure compliance with World Bank Groups’ policy. • Provides guidance and direction to Project Managers on commercial contract management issues. • Designs innovative solutions for medium to complex solicitations for large dollar and through a service risk-based approach. • Possesses an expert level understanding of commerciality and ability to demonstrate achieving value for money through strategic planning, solicitation, and negotiations. • Maximizes positive impact on sustainability (diversity, environment, social responsibility) through the sourcing process and category management. • Possesses a good understanding of risk management, analyses risks, and works with business partners to mitigate risks through sourcing and managing risks during category management.

Due to the requirements of the job, this position may require frequent adjustments to the work schedule created by the time zone difference with many of the clients it supports and may also involve a limited amount of travel.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. Recognized professional certifications (e.g., CPSM, CIPS) or courses would be highly desirable • Minimum seven years of relevant experience in sourcing construction, facility management, security, transportation, and managed services. • Knowledge of international procurement practices and understanding of public & private sector procurement procedures and processes is desirable. • Knowledge and experience conducting procurements for a wide variety of categories and in category management. • Demonstrated ability to deal with complex procurement situations. • Experience in executing solicitations and contracts in a services organization. • Effective negotiating and presentation skills. • Demonstrated strong interpersonal and analytical capabilities and logical problem-solving skills, and ability to structure data and assign resources effectively, monitor implementation and deliver results in line with project goals. • Ability to translate theory into practical applications in the context of Bank Group work. • Ability to proactively manage the work program and portfolio, contribute to team responsibilities and manage client expectations. • Proven Project Management skills with extensive experience in managing multiple related projects to ensure the overall program is aligned and directly supports the achievement of strategic objectives. • Excellent leadership skills coupled with strong communication and interpersonal capabilities. • Ability to give knowledge-based guidance to more junior staff and to participate in multi-disciplinary teams. • Ability to deal sensitively in a multicultural environment and build effective working relationships with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders. • Experience with MS Office applications and proficiency of technology and/or systems relevant to the functional area (e.g., SAP, R3, Admin Portal) is desirable. General Competencies: • Demonstrates in depth knowledge and understanding of project management concepts, as they relate to the implementation of complex, multi-functional projects in varied geographical and economic conditions. • Ability to lead complex and strategically important negotiations. • Superior communication skills in English (verbal, written, and comprehension), and ability to resolve interpersonal conflict. • Ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams within a matrix management environment, as well as an individual contributor. • Other language skills would be an asset.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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Note: The selected candidate will be offered a one-year appointment, renewable at the discretion of the World Bank Group, and subject to a lifetime maximum ET appointment of three years. If an ET appointment ends before a full year, it is considered as a full year toward the lifetime maximum. Former and current ET staff who have completed all or any portion of their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.