Name: Rob Clark
Position: Category Manager - Energy
How long have you been working at YPO? Since April 2016
What do you like most about working at YPO? YPO is a really positive place to work and is very agile in terms of defining solutions to meet customer requirements.
What are your main responsibilities? I’m one of two category managers in the energy procurement team, and my role has market specialism in education, health and social care. I lead strategic planning and delivery for our energy products and solutions for these markets (as well as supporting on wider public sector) and line manage the rest of the energy team.
What is the most challenging part of your job? The energy category is very fast paced and enormously influenced by both industry regulation and government legislation and keeping on top of all the changes is a never-ending task. Understanding all these forces and changes affecting customers is key to the role and can be challenging at times. But it’s also very interesting and rewarding and leads to new research into solutions that YPO can offer to help customers take advantage of the opportunities in these changes, or limit the risk they sometimes present.
Describe your role in three words: Reduce energy consumption
How did you get involved in procurement? I’ve been involved in procurement (and energy management) for large parts of my career, both in public and private sector organisations. Working at YPO lets me put these two parts together and work with many organisations to help them buy better and reduce their consumption and spend.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I’m a director and the chair of a local football club’s supporters’ trust, as well as being an avid fan of the club.