Senior Category Engineer

Job Purpose

Category management is a strategic Purchasing approach and a set of methods that allow NOC to:

• Implement a medium-term strategy to reduce/control cost.
• Present a coherent purchasing structure to major supplier organizations. Speak with one voice to our suppliers.
• Provide the necessary tools to material procurement (SWOT, Porter Analysis, Purchasing Matrix, contracts, price benchmarks, standardized technical and pricing annexes, ...) to understand fully the category.

The Senior Category Engineer represents the link between the Technical Duet and the Contracts & Procurement organization to align these two entities on a common objective and actions plan. The Senior Category Engineer will pay particular attention to define objectives and quantified targets, to implement clear key indicators to measure gains and progress.

The Senior Category Engineer is responsible for the strategy definition for an entire category of products and his implementation

Key Accountabilities

The Job holder shall define and revisit regularly the positioning and purchasing strategy of NOC in the medium term in the category covered (needs analysis, market intelligence, strategy, and implementation plan)

• Define needs: Provide support and contribution to the technical profession in determining and consolidating NOC current and future needs.
• Analyze the market: Build and provide optimal knowledge of the suppliers market and its scope by bringing available information, both internal and external. Know the cost breakdown of the category. To this end, the Senior Category Engineer constantly monitors the market with the support of C&P MI.
• Define the strategy: Establish and propose the Category strategy(ies) in close collaboration with the technical duet. This strategy will be jointly presented by the Duet (Senior Category Engineer and Technical) to the Material Committee and Contract & Procurement Committee (if needed) for validation.
• Prepare the complete implementation plan: Define the detailed action plan (scheduling, indicators, etc.) by sub-categories/projects and have the action plan validated in the relevant committees. The Senior Category Engineer is responsible for the implementation of the validated strategies.

The Job holder shall communicate and manage the category strategy.

• Lead and implement the Category Management process for the category(ies) for which the Senior Category Engineer is responsible.
• Measure performance and manage the deployment of the category strategy in NOC according to Quality, Cost and Time criteria (establish and monitor KPIs, carry out regular reporting to management, propose and implement actions and corrective measures if necessary…)
• Lead and coordinate operational activities to implement the strategies of its category(ies) and participate in the development of the supplier’s panel.
• Report to the Category Lead on the progress of the application of frame contracts, progress of the implementation of the strategy of the category(ies) and operational results achieved.
• Be responsible for updating category strategies.
• Centralize/globalize all information related to the relationships with our strategic suppliers in his perimeter, in close collaboration with technical entities.
• Ensure the strategic relevance of our supplier’s panel.

Ensure monitoring of major supplier risks identified including for example: risk of qualitative defect of the material, risk of incident/accident with material, human, ethic, or HSE impact.

Key Accountabilities

The Job holder shall support Stakeholders.

• Carry out calls for tenders and projects in the field of the category concerned.
• Contribute to the supplier qualification process (RFI, audit, financial analysis, etc.) and bring together information relating to the overall performance of main/strategic Suppliers in its category.
• Lead negotiations of agreements and framework contracts, in application of the defined strategy.
• Provide support to Major Projects
• Deal with difficulties in implementing strategies and inform management if necessary.

As part of Category Management, Senior Category Engineer:

• Participates in external events directly related to the category for which he/she is responsible. (Conferences, trade shows, etc.).
• Visit/Audit Suppliers
• Updates contractual database concerning category.
• Proposes improvements to the C&P Reference, participate in its evolution, share best practices
• Updates / negotiates Frame Contracts with our main suppliers.

Key Accountabilities

Procurement is vital to ensure continuity of NOC operational and production activities. NOC decided to reinforce his procurement professionalism by introducing Category Management Approach. Category management is a strong
tool to control the spend. Senior Category Engineer brings added value to internal stakeholders by his market knowledge. The job involves regular contact with local and international suppliers. The Senior Category Engineer shall have a good knowledge of the Company’s operations, petroleum industry equipment, specifications,
manufacturers, operations, and certifications requirements
Category Management is a process with a strong cross-functional nature. In this context, managing quality relationships with stakeholders is essential. The senior  category engineer brings to the technical profession his
knowledge of the supplier market and his capacity for market analysis.

Competencies

Education

BSc Degree in Science or Commercial field or its equivalent

Certification

CIPS certification is an advantage

Good knowledge of C&P tools (SAP, MPP, GEP, Coconut, etc.)

Experience

Professional experience: 8 years’ post-graduate experience in purchasing of goods/services in the Oil & Gas Industry his/her field and the O&G industry.