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- Tasks: Manage category spending and support strategy development in procurement.
- Company: Join a dynamic team focused on value management and strategic sourcing.
- Benefits: Gain exposure, ownership, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a strategic team making a measurable impact in procurement.
- Qualifications: Analytical skills, commercial awareness, and strong relationship-building abilities required.
- Other info: Ideal for those looking to advance their procurement career.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are seeking a Category Specialist to join our growing Procurement function. In this role, you will be responsible for both sourcing activities and the ongoing management of spend categories, ensuring alignment with organisational value management strategies and business needs. Working closely with the Category Manager and Senior Category Manager, you will support the development and execution of both category and sub-category strategies. You’ll help gather data and insights, contribute to strategic planning, and ensure procurement involvement is embedded early in the project lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage category spending and supply sourcing in alignment with agreed value management strategies and demand forecasts.
- Collaborate with the Category Manager to support the delivery of category strategies and lead on specific sub-category strategy development and implementation.
- Gather and consolidate customer requirements, volume demands, and technical specifications, providing critical input to inform strategic decisions.
- Collect and analyse category and sub-category spend data, including market trends and commodity pricing.
- Perform initial analysis to identify opportunities for improvement and value creation, sharing insights with the Category Manager.
- Develop strong internal relationships to ensure early engagement of procurement in third-party spend and external supplier decisions.
About You:
We’re looking for someone who brings a balance of analytical strength, commercial awareness, and interpersonal effectiveness. You will have:
- Experience in manipulating complex datasets and deriving actionable insights.
- Strong category strategy development skills, with the ability to design and deliver compelling sourcing plans.
- A performance and delivery-oriented mindset, able to work cross-functionally to achieve common goals.
- A proactive, can-do attitude, comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.
- Excellent analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills.
- The ability to build and sustain effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
This is a great opportunity for someone looking to advance their procurement career in a role that offers exposure, ownership, and development. Apply now to be part of a strategic team making a measurable impact.
Category Specialist employer: Cloister Resourcing Ltd
Contact Detail:
Cloister Resourcing Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with procurement strategies and category management principles. Understanding these concepts will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to our team and align with our organisational goals.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the procurement field, especially those who have experience as Category Specialists. Engaging in conversations can provide you with insights into the role and may even lead to valuable referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on market trends and commodity pricing relevant to our industry. Being knowledgeable about current market conditions will allow you to demonstrate your analytical skills and strategic thinking during discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed category spending or developed sourcing plans in the past. Real-life experiences will showcase your capabilities and make you a more compelling candidate.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in procurement and category management. Use specific examples that demonstrate your analytical skills and ability to develop sourcing strategies.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention how your skills align with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly your experience with data analysis and stakeholder engagement.
Showcase Analytical Skills: Provide concrete examples of how you've manipulated complex datasets in previous roles. Highlight any specific tools or methodologies you used to derive insights that led to improved procurement outcomes.
Demonstrate Interpersonal Effectiveness: Include instances where you've successfully built relationships with internal teams or external suppliers. This will show your ability to collaborate effectively, which is crucial for this role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cloister Resourcing Ltd
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Category Specialist, you'll need to manipulate complex datasets. Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully analysed data and derived actionable insights. This will demonstrate your analytical strength and relevance to the role.
✨Understand Category Strategy Development
Familiarise yourself with category strategy development processes. During the interview, be ready to explain how you would approach designing and delivering compelling sourcing plans. This shows that you understand the key responsibilities of the role and are proactive in your thinking.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
This role requires strong collaboration with various stakeholders. Prepare examples of how you've worked cross-functionally in the past to achieve common goals. Highlighting your interpersonal effectiveness will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate a Proactive Mindset
The job description mentions a 'can-do attitude'. Share instances where you've taken initiative or led projects independently. This will illustrate your performance-oriented mindset and ability to thrive both independently and as part of a team.
