Category Manager (Procurement)

We are seeking an experienced Category Manager to join our Procurement team within the Finance Department on an initial 3 month FTC (with the possibility to extend). This role is integral to ensuring the firm acquires the right goods and services at the best value, supporting our strategic objectives while maintaining operational excellence.

As a Category Manager, you will lead and drive strategic procurement initiatives across key spend categories, shaping best practices and delivering commercial value across the organisation. This role requires someone who thrives in an autonomous environment, bringing deep expertise, commercial acumen, and a forward-thinking approach to procurement. You will be part of a team fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring procurement strategies align with the firm’s overarching business priorities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Category Strategy Development:

• Develop and execute category specific sourcing strategies that align to departmental business objectives and overall business goals.
• Perform spend analysis to identify areas of spend optimisation and return on investment.
• Monitor, collate and analyse supplier performance data, to assess value for money and supplier improvement opportunities.
• Monitor market trends and benchmarks to ensure competitiveness and market leading innovation.

• Lead end to end category sourcing activity.
• Build a fit for purpose supply chain to deliver departmental objectives.
• Support, and in some cases lead, all relevant negotiations.
• Ensure application of robust supplier approval.
• Draft, review, and agree all relevant third-party contracts.

• Lead supplier performance reviews and development improvement initiatives.
• Identify and build plans to mitigate risk in the short-, medium- and long-term horizon.
• Lead on segmenting suppliers and develop long term relationships and supply plans executed through cross-functional teams.

• Collaborate in cross-functional teams such as finance, operations, and legal to align procurement goals.
• Provide procurement partnering support services within dedicated category department, and other categories when required.
• Manage and resolve supply chain performance related issues with the relevant department.
• Ensure compliance to internal policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Use and build analytical dashboards to identify trends, risks, and opportunities within procurement.
• Provide regular reports on category performance, spend management, and procurement partner metrics.
• Develop dashboards and tools to enhance visibility of spend and performance.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Results driven mindset focused on delivering measurable value to the firm.
• Deep knowledge of market dynamics and supplier ecosystems across varying managed categories.
• Ability to foster innovation and challenge the status quo in procurement process.
• Commitment to ethical and sustainable procurement practices, with an aptitude for continuous improvement.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in procurement, with expertise in category management.
• Proven history in cost management, profit protection, value creation, supplier commercial negotiation, and supplier management.

Technical and Analytical Skills:

• Strong understanding of procurement processes, supplier management, and category-specific trends.
• Proficiency in procurement systems and tools.
• Excellent knowledge in contract law and drafting agreements.
• Advanced data analytics and knowledge of BI and Excel.

Soft Skills:

• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Collaborative and able to influence stakeholders across all levels of management in the firm.

Education:

• Degree in supply chain, business administration or a related field.
• CIPS highly desirable.

You will also be expected to display the attributes set out under the firm’s Key Behaviours for Business Services staff for this level of role.