At a Glance
- Tasks: Support global procurement strategies and drive supplier initiatives for business growth.
- Company: Join TMS Global, a leader in sustainable packaging solutions with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Gain exposure to strategic procurement while making a real impact on sustainability.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement or supply chain, strong analytical skills, and project management abilities.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
12 months Fixed Term Contract
This role is offered on a hybrid basis, with your office location based in either Manchester or Budapest.
TMS Global, part of DS Smith, is a global leader in sustainable packaging and retail solutions.
Operating in 97 markets with more than 300 colleagues across APAC, LATAM, EMEA and North America, we partner with leading global brands to deliver innovative print, packaging and display solutions.
As a Category Coordinator, you will be at the heart of our global procurement function, helping to deliver sourcing strategies, supplier initiatives and continuous improvement projects that drive value for both our business and customers.
Working closely with the Global Sourcing Lead and stakeholders across the business, you will help drive procurement best practice, monitor supplier and procurement performance, and contribute to the successful delivery of strategic sourcing programmes that create value and improve operational efficiency.
This is a varied and collaborative role that requires strong organisational and project management skills, attention to detail and a proactive approach.
You will build relationships with internal teams, suppliers and external partners, providing support across sourcing activities, supplier development, commercial projects and governance initiatives.
The role offers an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to strategic procurement activities while contributing to business growth and continuous improvement across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of procurement policies, processes and best practices, ensuring consistent adoption across the business.
- Deliver performance reporting, stakeholder engagement and analysis of procurement and supplier activities.
- Act as a key support to the Global Sourcing Lead on strategic commercial initiatives and group-wide procurement activities, ensuring projects are effectively coordinated, monitored and delivered.
- Coordinate sourcing activities and supplier management initiatives, supporting procurement objectives and business requirements.
- Provide procurement and supplier support for new business opportunities, including supplier identification, commercial analysis and capacity assessments.
- Contribute to supplier development programmes, driving improvements in quality, service, sustainability, innovation, resilience and cost performance.
- Coordinate procurement projects and initiatives, maintaining project plans, monitoring actions, risks and opportunities, and ensuring deadlines are achieved.
- Identify opportunities to improve procurement effectiveness, reporting capability, supplier performance and operational efficiency across the function.
About You
You'll be an organised and proactive professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced, international environment.
With strong analytical skills and a keen eye for detail, you'll be confident building relationships across multiple functions, managing competing priorities and communicating effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
The ideal candidate will have experience in the following areas
- Experience working within a procurement, sourcing or supply chain environment.
- Strong analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends and translate findings into actionable insights.
- Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and Power Point, with the ability to create reports, analyse data and present insights effectively.
- Experience using ERP, procurement or supplier management systems would be advantageous.
- Excellent organisational and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.
If you're looking for an opportunity to develop your procurement career within a global organisation and contribute to strategic sourcing initiatives, we'd love to hear from you.
“To achieve our aim of being among the most successful, sustainable and responsible companies in the world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce.
Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges.
We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.”
Category co-ordinator in Manchester employer: DS Smith
DS Smith is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises safety and employee well-being in the vibrant location of Livingston, Scotland. With opportunities for personal growth and development, alongside competitive benefits such as 25 days holiday and a pension scheme, employees can thrive in a dynamic environment while contributing to meaningful production processes.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category co-ordinator in Manchester
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Category co-ordinator in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show DS Smith that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, DS Smith can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows DS Smith that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let DS Smith know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at DS Smith
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
