Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage procurement for special gases and chemicals, driving innovation and supplier relationships.
- Company: Global engineering leader with a focus on cutting-edge manufacturing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work, annual bonus, and clear career progression.
- Why this job: Make a measurable impact in a high-value category while developing into a strategic leader.
- Qualifications: 3-5 years of procurement experience and strong negotiation skills.
- Other info: Engage with senior leaders and collaborate across global networks for best practices.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 49000 £ per year.
Locations: Manchester / Surrey / Yorkshire (Hybrid: 2 days per week on site)
Salary: £50,000-£56,000 + Discretionary bonus + excellent benefits
Category Spend: c. £50m
Step into a high-impact role within one of the world’s most respected engineering organisations, operating at the cutting edge of chemicals, gases and technical manufacturing. This is a standout opportunity for a rising procurement professional looking to accelerate their career within a complex, strategic, and commercially critical category. You will manage end-to-end procurement activity across special gases, packaged gases, electronic gases and chemicals, blending strategic category ownership with hands-on delivery. Expect exposure to high-value negotiations, supplier optimisation, cross-functional stakeholder influence, and international collaboration across EMEA. If you’re driven, commercially sharp, and ready to develop into a true category leader, this role will give you depth, visibility, and progression you won’t easily find elsewhere.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver category strategies aligned to business priorities, productivity targets and risk mitigation
- Lead value improvement initiatives (cost optimisation, alternative sourcing, process efficiencies, value engineering)
- Build, develop and manage supplier relationships, driving continuous improvement and innovation
- Identify, evaluate and onboard new suppliers to support category growth and resilience
- Negotiate pricing, commercial terms and contract agreements
- Conduct robust market and supply analysis to monitor trends, regulation, and competitive positioning
- Ensure strong governance, contract compliance and risk management
- Oversee procurement lifecycle activities including contract drafting, review and execution
- Manage supplier KPIs and performance reviews, implementing corrective actions where necessary
- Champion total cost of ownership thinking and challenge historic practices
- Work closely with supply chain, logistics, planning and operations teams to support business continuity
- Engage with senior leaders (Finance, BU Heads, Operations, Supply Chain) to align procurement strategy and delivery
- Collaborate across EMEA/global procurement networks to leverage best practice and scale advantages
About You
You’re a proactive, curious and commercially driven procurement professional with foundational experience and a desire to develop into a strategic category leader.
Essential
- 3-5 years’ procurement experience (direct spend)
- Confident stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
- Proven experience supporting both tactical and strategic procurement activity
- Strong negotiation ability and commercial acumen
- Comfortable navigating complex environments with multiple priorities
- Exposure to international suppliers or multi-regional markets
Desirable
- Experience within chemicals, industrial gases, special gases, technical or engineering categories
- Degree or equivalent professional experience
- CIPS qualification (or currently studying)
- Understanding of contract drafting and management
- Background in industrial, manufacturing or engineering environments
What’s on Offer
- £50,000-£58,000 base salary
- 10% annual bonus
- Hybrid working (2 days per week on site)
- Occasional UK travel (minimal global travel)
- Meaningful ownership of a specialist, high-value category
- Clear progression path into a senior procurement position
Why This Role?
- Visibility: Direct exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision-making
- Growth: The organisation actively develops procurement talent into senior roles
- Scale: Work within a global function and learn best practice from a world-class procurement network
- Impact: Every project you deliver will be measurable, commercial, and business-critical
Interview Process
- Initial 30-45 min call: CV overview, motivations, capability alignment
- Final panel interview: Technical, behavioural, and scenario-based assessment
Ready to Take the Next Step? If you’re ambitious, commercially minded and excited by the prospect of owning a technical, high-value category in a global engineering business, we’d love to hear from you. This role offers genuine development, senior support, and the opportunity to make a visible impact from day one. Apply now and build a procurement career with scale, purpose and progression.
Procurement Category Specialist - Engineering in Manchester employer: Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
Contact Detail:
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Category Specialist - Engineering in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its procurement strategies, especially in engineering. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs and how you can add value.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your negotiation skills! During interviews, share specific examples of successful negotiations you've led. This will demonstrate your commercial acumen and ability to drive value.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Category Specialist - Engineering in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Procurement Category Specialist. Highlight your relevant experience in procurement, especially any work with chemicals or engineering categories. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about procurement and how you can contribute to our team. Be sure to mention specific examples of your negotiation skills and stakeholder engagement.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Quantify your successes where possible, like cost savings or supplier optimisations. We love seeing how you've made an impact in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
✨Know Your Category Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of procurement in engineering and industrial gases. Familiarise yourself with current market trends, key suppliers, and any recent innovations in the field. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you articulate how you can contribute to their category strategies.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past negotiations where you achieved significant cost savings or improved supplier terms. Be ready to discuss your approach to negotiation and how you handle complex situations. This is crucial for a role that involves high-value negotiations and supplier optimisation.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you’ve successfully engaged with various stakeholders in previous roles. Be prepared to share specific instances where you influenced decisions or collaborated across teams. This will demonstrate your ability to navigate complex environments and align procurement strategies with business priorities.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about their current challenges in procurement or how they measure success in supplier relationships. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company aligns with your career goals.
