Category Manager

Overview

In this role, you will drive strategic procurement across key direct spend areas to support NPI initiatives and ensure robust supplier partnerships. You will lead LTAs and supplier performance, working with cross-functional teams to align contracts with business goals. The position sits within a global engineering business and partners with engineering, production, and projects teams to enable a resilient supply chain. You will influence supplier strategy and mentor junior staff while shaping category outcomes at scale.

Responsibilities

• Review and optimise current supplier agreements
• Negotiate long-term supply agreements (LTAs) with existing and new suppliers
• Lead strategic supplier relationship management to drive innovation and performance
• Align category performance and contracts with broader business goals
• Support NPI procurement activities and ensure supply chain capability
• Perform make vs. buy analysis and advise on procurement decisions
• Analyse category and supplier data to inform strategic decisions
• Support Operational Buyers with contractual execution and MRP activities
• Engage with stakeholders across Engineering, Production, Projects, and Manufacturing

Key requirements

• Strategic procurement experience at a senior level (Senior Buyer, Strategic Buyer, Category Buyer, Procurement Manager)
• Experience managing suppliers and applying modern supplier relationship management techniques
• Ability to negotiate and manage contractual agreements
• Ability to mentor and develop junior staff and manage workload
• Data analysis skills
• Familiarity with a category/commodity management approach to procurement

• Stakeholder collaboration
• Mentoring and leadership
• Analytical thinking
• Data analysis
• Category/commodity management approach
• Contract negotiation and management

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