Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage sourcing activities and category spend for strategic procurement.
- Company: Join a dynamic team focused on value management and business needs.
- Benefits: Gain exposure, ownership, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a strategic team making a real impact in procurement.
- Qualifications: Analytical skills, commercial awareness, and strong relationship-building abilities required.
- Other info: Ideal for those eager to advance their procurement career.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ 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 the latest trends in procurement and category management. Understanding current market dynamics will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to staying informed in this field.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the procurement industry, especially those who have experience as Category Specialists. Engaging in conversations can provide valuable insights and may even lead to referrals or recommendations.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully managed spend categories or contributed to strategic sourcing initiatives in previous roles. Real-life scenarios can showcase your analytical skills and problem-solving abilities effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your interpersonal skills by preparing to discuss how you've built relationships with stakeholders in past positions. Highlighting your ability to collaborate and communicate effectively will resonate well with the hiring team.
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 actionable insights that led to improved procurement outcomes.
Demonstrate Interpersonal Effectiveness: Include instances where you've successfully built relationships with internal stakeholders or external suppliers. This will showcase your ability to work cross-functionally and support the collaborative nature of the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cloister Resourcing Ltd
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
As a Category Specialist, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to manipulate complex datasets. Prepare examples of how you've used data analysis to derive actionable insights in previous roles.
✨Understand Category Strategy Development
Familiarise yourself with category strategy development processes. Be ready to discuss how you would design and deliver compelling sourcing plans that align with organisational goals.
✨Emphasise Interpersonal Effectiveness
This role requires strong relationship-building skills. Think of instances where you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams or managed supplier relationships, and be prepared to share these stories.
✨Demonstrate a Proactive Mindset
The job description highlights the importance of a proactive, can-do attitude. Prepare to discuss situations where you've taken initiative, solved problems independently, or contributed positively to team efforts.
