Category Specialist (Strategic) Location: Buckinghamshire (4 days on site) Reports to: Head of Procurement Purpose of the Role As a Category Specialist (Strategic) , you will be responsible for managing and optimising strategic sourcing activities across assigned procurement categories. Working closely with internal stakeholders and key suppliers, you will develop and execute category strategies aligned with business objectives, driving value creation, mitigating supply chain risk, improving supplier performance and supporting the long-term development of a resilient and competitive supply base. Key Responsibilities Develop and implement long-term category strategies to deliver cost savings, improve quality and on-time delivery, and reduce supply chain risk. Conduct market analysis, benchmarking and supplier assessments to identify sourcing opportunities, including opportunities for supplier rationalisation. Lead RFx processes, including RFI, RFP and RFQ activities, supplier negotiations, cross-functional supplier selection, and contract negotiation and execution for strategic spend categories. Build and maintain strong relationships with key internal stakeholders to understand business requirements and ensure procurement strategies are aligned with operational and commercial objectives. Support the Head of Procurement in managing supplier performance, resolving issues and conducting periodic supplier reviews to ensure contractual compliance and drive continuous improvement. Monitor industry trends, supply chain risks and market developments that may impact sourcing strategies and procurement plans. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Business Units, Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Legal, Finance and Operations, to deliver category initiatives and support wider business objectives. Develop and maintain KPIs, dashboards and management reports to monitor and communicate category performance. Identify opportunities for sustainability, innovation, productivity and cost optimisation, including PPV improvement. Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, applicable industry regulations and ethical standards. Analyse market trends and supply chain risks to support informed purchasing decisions and contribute to procurement strategy and planning. Lead, coach and mentor procurement colleagues where appropriate, promoting a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement. Key Competencies Strategic Thinking Strong market and industry analysis skills. Ability to develop and implement long-term category strategies. Commercial awareness and an innovative approach to sourcing. Negotiation
Category Specialist in Milton Keynes employer: Copello Global
Join a leading defence and engineering organisation as an EMC Engineer, where you will be part of a dynamic and experienced team dedicated to the design and development of cutting-edge electronic products. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, fantastic benefits, and a hybrid work model, this role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects while enjoying a supportive work culture that values innovation and collaboration.
