Global Category Manager - Indirects in Kidlington

Reporting to the Global Head of Indirects, the Global Category Manager – Indirects will own and lead a significant global spend portfolio across multiple regions and business units. This is a hands-on, commercially focused role with the opportunity to shape and improve how Property, Facilities Management and CapEx spend is strategically managed across the organisation. The role will drive value, strong governance, and supplier performance while partnering closely with senior stakeholders, external property advisors, and key suppliers to deliver global category strategy.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver the global category strategy for Property, FM (with a focus on Soft FM), CapEx, Utilities and Warehousing.
• Manage the global property portfolio in partnership with external property consultants.
• Lead global sourcing and procurement activities to maximise value, leverage, and supply effectiveness.
• Establish, negotiate, and manage key supplier contracts, renewals, and performance.
• Drive cost savings and value creation through spend analysis, benchmarking, and commercial negotiations.
• Analyse global spend and supplier markets to identify opportunities and support strategic decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, governance, contracts, and supplier onboarding requirements.
• Embed and continuously improve global procurement processes in collaboration with the Procurement Centre of Excellence.
• Coordinating and reporting against category spend plans in detail.
• Preparing category updates at a tactical level.
• Conduct supplier audits and assessments.
• Build strong relationships with regional and global stakeholders, influencing change and delivery.
• Deliver clear reporting, category updates, and communications to support savings and performance.
• Executing value-for-money decision-making through spend leverage.
• Support wider procurement, supply chain, ESG and sustainability objectives as required.
• Own and deliver regional and global category plans, budgets, and cost-saving targets.
• Hold strategic and critical suppliers accountable against commercial, performance, and ESG requirements.
• Act as escalation point for key supplier and stakeholder issues.
• Drive continuous improvement and best practice across the category.

Skills and Experience:

• Procurement experience within a global category role.
• Relevant category experience.
• Degree educated or equivalent (& proven track record).
• Prior manufacturing experience.
• Experience working within a complex private sector multi-national business.
• Result orientated with the ability to present results in a structured and professional manner.
• Commercial acumen and ability to influence business colleagues and leaders.
• Strong analytical skills and evidences use of data to drive informed decision-making.
• Cost reduction experience and evidence.
• Team player with customer service focus.

What we offer:

• Discretionary Annual Bonus.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Up to 5% matched pension contribution.
• 4x annual salary life assurance.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Extra paid day off for your birthday.
• Paid day off for volunteering.
• Employee discounts through MyDiscounts.
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme.
• Holiday Purchase Scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.

This is a hybrid role, with 2-3 days per week based in our Kidlington office.

Essentra plc is a leading global provider of essential components and solutions, focusing on the manufacture and distribution of plastic injection moulded, vinyl dip moulded and metal items. Headquartered in the UK, Essentra's global network extends to 28 countries worldwide and includes over 3,000 employees, 14 manufacturing facilities, 24 distribution centres and 33 sales & service centres serving c.74,000 customers with a rapid supply of low cost but essential products for a variety of applications in industries such as equipment manufacturing, automotive, fabrication, electronics, medical and renewable energy.

At Essentra we are ideally looking for individuals who enjoy working as part of a close team, are passionate about what they do and who strive to make a difference. We are always looking to better ourselves and are keen to recruit individuals who like to innovate and improve processes.