Procurement Category Manager - Support Services

Procurement Category Manager – Support Services

Once started as a local Dutch and Belgium logistics provider for companies in the fashion industry, we have grown into an award winning international 3PL logistics company serving many renowned brands across various consumer goods industries.

We leverage our experience and knowledge built over many years, passed from team members to team members, and expanded our activities ever since. Despite our growth and substantially larger business size, we have always kept our spirit of an agile entrepreneur, drive to excel, passion for logistics and culture of putting people first … since 1862.

Do you believe that your work can make a difference in other people’s lives and contribute to the success of an organisation and its customers? At Bleckmann, we do.

Do you want to become part of an international and diverse team? If the answer is yes, then Bleckmann might be the right fit for you.

This is a permanent, full-time day role, working Monday to Friday based at any of our Bleckmann sites within the UK and offering a salary ranging from £50,000.00 to £62,000.00 depending on skills and experience. The role follows a hybrid working model, with three days in the office and two days working from home each week.

Tasks and responsibilities:

Responsible for leading strategic sourcing and supplier management across indirect spend categories such as Facilities, Security, Marketing, Financial Services, and Utilities. Also responsible for driving tendering processes, managing supplier performance, and building long-term partnerships to support a best-in-class procurement function focused on value creation and service excellence.

Key tasks:

1. Develop and Implement Procurement Strategies (15%)

• Define and implement sourcing strategies in collaboration with key internal stakeholders.
• Create a 1–3-year procurement plan focusing on cost optimization, risk mitigation, process improvement, and financing structures.
• Monitor and analyze market trends to identify new sourcing opportunities.
• Establish procurement KPIs and dashboards to track performance.
• Foster relationships with new and existing suppliers, ensuring performance through assessments and regular evaluations.
• Initiate, design, and lead tender processes across assigned categories from start to finish.
• Analyze stakeholder requirements and translate them into clear procurement deliverables.
• Draft and negotiate supplier contracts, in collaboration with Legal, in line with company policies and ethical guidelines.
• Define and manage SLAs, ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness (TCO), and service continuity.
• Negotiate pricing and terms with suppliers to deliver sustainable value.

3. Strengthen the Procurement Function (20%)

• Ensure adherence to Procurement processes to maximize contract value and compliance.
• Enhance Source-to-Pay processes and optimize procurement channels.
• Integrate sustainability criteria into supplier selection and category strategies.
• Apply Supplier Relationship Management and Risk Management techniques to ensure supplier reliability and mitigate risks.
• Conduct regular supplier assessments and drive continuous improvement.

4. Act as a Business Partner (20%)

• Serve as a strategic partner to internal departments including Operations, HRM, Finance, and others impacted by support service procurement.
• Foster collaboration between Procurement and Support Services to maximize synergy.
• Support stakeholders in contract ownership and implementation of sourcing initiatives.
• Mentor colleagues and promote a culture of procurement excellence and continuous improvement.

Profile:

• 3 to 5 years’ experience in indirect procurement (e.g., Facilities, Security, Marketing, Utilities)
• Proven track record in strategic procurement, tendering, and contract management
• Experience managing projects and contracts in dynamic, multi-site environments
• Strong analytical mindset and negotiation skills
• Proactive, collaborative, and results-driven approach
• Excellent interpersonal skills for building partnerships
• Proficient in ERP and procurement platforms (e.g., Source-to-Pay, e-Procurement, ITSM)
• Skilled in procurement data analysis and reporting
• Willingness to travel across UK sites and internationally as required

What do we offer?

Our people are at the heart of what we do. They are critical to our clients successes and without a doubt, to our success also. This is why we offer a range of benefits including:

• 33 days annual leave, inclusive of Bank Holidays
• Life insurance
• Retail and Various Discounts via a Benefits Platform
• Health and Wellbeing initiatives (EAP, OH, Wellbeing hub via a benefits platform)
• Social Events
• Exclusive Client Discounts

Additional information:

We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse organization where we are committed to employee development and recognizing the successes of our teams. We are proud of our accreditations including Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire and we are Disability Confident Committed as part of the Disability Confident Scheme and actively welcome applications from people with disabilities.

If you wish to know more about the role or discuss accommodations within the recruitment and selection process, please contact: Greta.Smirnovaite@bleckmann.com

Working in a team of enthusiastic colleagues