Head of Essentials, Suites, Premium US Build & Open (Procurement)

The position of Head of Category is a new role created within procurement in support of the IHG procurement strategy. IHG Procurement is undergoing a transformation in support of Corporate objectives and the Winning Way.  The incumbents will be experienced procurement directors (not development roles) and they will be expected to establish and lead cross-functional teams of stakeholders through Sourcing Management, Demand Management and Supplier Relationship Management as a structured process to deliver breakthrough results for the business.  Categories will typically be $200-$600 million spend p.a. – have up to 1,000 suppliers and be complex and difficult to manage being made up of a number of associated categories each of which is in itself complex.  The Head of Category is responsible for multiple categories of spend and will lead IHG and supplier management through major change to deliver breakthrough value.

Your day to day

Strategic Leadership: 

Design and implement procurement strategies tailored to the build and open hotel lifecycle phases for essentials, suites, premium brand segments in the Americas. 

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure procurement strategies align with broader business objectives, focusing on quality consistency, cost reduction, and speed to market. 

Talent Development and Capability Building: 

Recruit and lead a high-performing procurement team dedicated to optimizing strategies and maximizing owner return on investment. 

Utilize offshore resources and third-party partnerships to ensure cost-efficient and scalable procurement operations. 

Effective Communication: 

Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, clearly communicating the value and benefits of procurement programs. 

Act as a liaison between procurement and other departments (e.g., brands, architecture and design, hotel facing stakeholders, etc.) to ensure transparency and collaboration. 

Program Management: 

Develop and implement category and supplier management processes, leveraging innovative solutions to achieve measurable business results. 

Oversee project management initiatives to ensure timely delivery of procurement objectives in line with hotel development timelines. 

Collaborative Business Partnering: 

Establish and strengthen partnerships with internal stakeholders and external partners to align procurement initiatives with strategic business goals. 

What we need from you

• Influence & negotiation skills to collaborate with key stakeholders, internally and externally, to drive results 
• Mix of business understanding and deep expertise in supply chain & procurement techniques and best practices 
• Demonstrate strategic thinking in delivering solutions 
• Significant experience in managing and developing relationships. 
• Ability to navigate, influence and manage change in a matrix organization 
• Effective at identifying broader business trends and creating timely response within IHG 
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and engaging with senior leadership across a matrix organization 
• Deep strategic understanding of hospitality business and hospitality industry dynamics 

Travel - up to 25% required

Location - Our hybrid work structure is an expectation of three (3) days a week in the Atlanta office.  This expectation may be adjusted to evolve with the changing needs of the business.

The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $180,000.  This role is also eligible for bonus.  We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401K and other benefits to employees.

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