About the Role
Effective procurement is not simply about finding the lowest price. The real challenge is understanding what the business needs, identifying reliable suppliers, managing commercial risk, and creating agreements that continue to deliver value long after the contract is signed.
As a Procurement Category Manager, you will take responsibility for sourcing activity across assigned categories, coordinating supplier selection, tendering, contract discussions, and ongoing commercial performance. You will work with technical and operational teams to understand requirements and turn them into structured procurement strategies.
The role combines commercial analysis with stakeholder and supplier management. One day may involve reviewing market options for a new engineering requirement, while another could focus on evaluating tender submissions, negotiating contract terms, or resolving a recurring supplier-performance issue.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage procurement activity across assigned categories and business requirements.
- Develop sourcing strategies based on operational priorities, market conditions, cost, and supply risk.
- Work with internal teams to define specifications and procurement requirements.
- Identify suitable suppliers and conduct market research before formal sourcing activity.
- Prepare requests for quotation, tender documentation, and commercial evaluation materials.
- Evaluate supplier submissions against agreed commercial and technical criteria.
- Lead or support supplier negotiations involving pricing, service levels, lead times, and contractual conditions.
- Prepare procurement recommendations and commercial approval documentation.
- Maintain accurate sourcing, supplier, and contract records.
- Coordinate supplier onboarding and due-diligence activities.
- Monitor supplier performance against agreed service and delivery expectations.
- Support contract renewals, extensions, and competitive re-tendering exercises.
- Analyse expenditure and identify opportunities for consolidation or cost improvement.
- Investigate recurring supplier, pricing, or delivery issues.
- Maintain procurement pipelines and monitor upcoming sourcing deadlines.
- Work with finance and operational teams to resolve purchase-order and invoice discrepancies.
- Support procurement compliance and appropriate approval processes.
- Prepare reports covering procurement activity, supplier performance, savings, and commercial risks.
- Develop constructive supplier relationships while maintaining appropriate commercial controls.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of procurement and sourcing processes.
What We Are Looking For
- Previous experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, purchasing, or commercial management.
- Strong understanding of tendering, supplier evaluation, and commercial negotiation.
- Experience managing supplier relationships and contract performance.
- Good numerical and analytical skills.
- Confidence working with pricing models, quotations, and commercial proposals.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience using procurement, ERP, or purchasing systems would be advantageous.
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to manage several procurement projects and deadlines simultaneously.
- Experience within engineering, manufacturing, technology, infrastructure, or professional services would be beneficial.
- Working toward or holding a CIPS qualification would be advantageous.
- Ability to balance cost, quality, service, and commercial risk when making recommendations.
Competencies
- Category management
- Strategic sourcing
- Supplier negotiation
- Tender management
- Commercial analysis
- Contract management
- Supplier performance
- Spend analysis
- Procurement planning
- Cost evaluation
- Stakeholder management
- Commercial risk assessment
Mindset
You look beyond the headline price and consider the full commercial picture. You are willing to challenge unclear requirements, question supplier assumptions, and negotiate firmly while maintaining productive relationships. Your decisions are evidence-based, commercially practical, and focused on long-term value rather than short-term savings alone.
Pay: £40,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
