Market Category Specialist Professional Services Africa

Job Description
ABOUT US
As the custodians of iconic brands such as Baileys, Guinness, Smirnoff, and Johnnie Walker, at Diageo, we source, produce and deliver 6.5 billion litres of world-leading products every year, across 180 markets globally. The commercial challenges here are large, diverse and endlessly fascinating. Never more so than in Procurement.

As an organisation, we spend over £5 billion per year. And as the driving force in this expenditure, our Procurement teams make a far-reaching contribution to our business, productivity and growth goals – right across the globe.

Premium quality and end-to-end, sustainable value are how we measure our success – across services, partnerships and products. We always want to be the best and, along with engaging the best talent to work with the best products, this is how we attempt to do it.

Ultimately, this is about people as much as numbers. We build great relationships internally and externally – so we understand our needs and how to meet them. Every time.

Join us in Procurement and, if you're driven, resilient and share our pioneering spirit, there's a world of opportunity here for you.

About The Function
Our Supply Chain and Manufacturing team are problem-solvers, sourcing, producing, and delivering our much-loved brands to delight customers around the globe. Over half of Diageo's 30,000+ people work in Supply Chain and Manufacturing. It's an intricate and sophisticated operation that's the product of logistical, manufacturing, and technical collaborations.

Our teams in 100 sites in over 30 countries cover production facilities, supplier relationships, customer collaborations and third-party agreements. We're committed to realising our 'Society 2030: Spirit of Progress' goals, to protect the environment and support our farmers and suppliers. Whatever your skills and experience, we'll help you to thrive in our inclusive culture.

About The Role
Your role will involve supporting strategic procurement by developing category plans using Diageo's methods to enhance procurement value, leading or assisting with sourcing initiatives for specific spend categories, and implementing category strategies in collaboration with global and market specialists. You'll develop expertise in specific spend categories, guiding Analysts in leveraging supply market data for strategy development. Engage dynamically across categories, contributing to flexible resource pools aimed at balancing demand peaks and troughs while accelerating career growth.

Role Responsibilities

General

• Applied Expertise: Build and share knowledge in one or more spend categories. Understand supply markets, suppliers, stakeholders, and negotiation strategies. Become a subject-matter expert within our global community.
• Category Excellence: Lead the development of market data, category strategies, and sourcing events using Diageo standards. Contribute to improving tools & techniques.

Category Strategy

• Business Partnering: Collaborate closely with category managers to deepen relationships with stakeholders, partners, and suppliers for enhanced insights.
• Strategy Development: Support evolution of category strategies by capturing business requirements, analyzing market dynamics, assessing opportunities, and proposing solutions.
• Best-in-Class Capabilities: Develop cost models considering scenarios with suppliers/stakeholders. Enhance analytics capabilities for regular strategy reviews.
• Strategy Execution: Facilitate end-to-end execution of strategies across geographical/organizational boundaries. Track progress against goals; provide detailed KPI data monthly.

Sourcing

• Execute sourcing activities for above-market leverage (CM2) and truly market-specific (CM1) spend categories utilizing best practices.
• Support effective planning/preparation using the Negotiation Toolkit; assist in negotiating/closing contracts; manage compliance throughout contract lifecycles.

Risk Management

Identify strategic risks during strategy execution; follow-up on mitigations aligned with best practices. Address sourcing risks by engaging stakeholders/partners/suppliers effectively.

Supplier Relationship Management

Establish trust-based relationships with market suppliers ensuring strong performance/risk mitigation/resolution foundations. Drive consistency/improvement across supplier KPIs/data application.

Excellence in Supply Chain 'Source'

Demonstrated experience working within standard end-to-end processes like Source-to-Pay adhering to core process/standards/KPI-led performance management structures/tiered reporting/review frameworks. Continuously develop through learning curriculums/materials available on Learning Hub/sources relevant to role growth/development opportunities at Diageo

Experience / Skills Required
We are seeking candidates with a graduate or equivalent qualification who are members of a professional body such as CIPS. You should have a minimum of 4–5 years' experience in Procurement, Finance, FMCG Commercial, or another relevant field, with expertise in supply markets and spend categories pertinent to the role. Demonstrated success in projects and cross-market teams is essential, along with experience in developing and executing category and procurement strategies, and managing supplier negotiations. Strong analytical skills and financial awareness are crucial, including an understanding of AOP requirements and financial goals relevant to the categories in scope. A proven track record of generating insights to influence decision-making is important, alongside good commercial acumen. Proficiency in systems like SAP, PRDM, M/S Office, E-collaborate or similar tools is required. Strong verbal and written communication skills, presentation abilities, and interpersonal skills are also necessary. A history of consistent performance and delivery will be highly valued.

Flexible Working Statement
Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you're supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

Diversity Statement
Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.

We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you'll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You'll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.
Worker Type
Regular

Primary Location:
Nairobi HQ

Additional Locations :
Job Posting Start Date