At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement for medical consumables, driving performance and supplier relationships.
- Company: IMS Euro, an award-winning medical supplies company with over 30 years of experience.
- Benefits: Up to 33 days annual leave, enhanced family leave, health support, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Join a dynamic culture that encourages growth, collaboration, and achieving your full potential.
- Why this job: Make a tangible impact in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment while collaborating with talented professionals.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and commercial awareness required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 € per year.
Location: Hybrid (3-4 days at our Stockport Head office)
Department: Procurement
Company Overview
IMS Euro is a successful, award-winning medical supplies company with over 30 years of industry experience, present in UK and EU. We are a trusted supplier of high-quality animal health and veterinary consumables to a wide range of clients, including veterinary hospitals and practices, universities, research institutions, and other professional animal care providers. As a fast-growing business, we take pride in delivering reliable, innovative, and cost-effective products that support the vital work of animal health professionals across the UK and Europe. Today, IMS Euro employs over 100 talented professionals, fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and supportive culture where people are encouraged to grow, collaborate, and achieve their full potential.
Role Purpose
We are seeking a commercially astute and proactive Procurement Category Manager to lead the procurement and performance of our medical consumables portfolio, with a particular emphasis on branded products, supplier relationships, and value delivery. This role is responsible for driving category performance through strategic sourcing, supplier management, cost control, market insight, and cross-functional collaboration. You will work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure products remain competitive, commercially viable, and aligned with business and customer needs. The successful candidate will bring strong analytical, sourcing, and negotiation skills, helping to optimise supplier performance, improve margin, mitigate supply risk, and support the business in delivering value to both customers and stakeholders.
Key Deliverables
- Manage and optimise procurement performance across the medical consumables category
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure service, quality, continuity, and commercial performance
- Identify and deliver cost-saving, value improvement, and sourcing opportunities
- Support procurement strategy and range development through market and competitor analysis
- Provide procurement insight and recommendations to internal stakeholders
Key Responsibilities
Procurement Strategy & Cost Management- Develop and implement procurement category plans for branded medical consumables in line with business objectives
- Review supplier pricing and product performance, identifying opportunities for cost reduction, value improvement, and margin enhancement
- Manage sourcing decisions, pricing, rebates, and cost structures to ensure commercial competitiveness
- Monitor category performance against KPIs and report on procurement outcomes
- Build and maintain effective supplier relationships, ensuring high levels of service, product quality, reliability, and value
- Lead negotiations on pricing, supplier terms, rebate agreements, and commercial conditions to achieve procurement targets
- Support supplier reviews and identify performance, compliance, and improvement opportunities
- Work collaboratively with suppliers to support continuity of supply and effective contract delivery
- Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Finance to align procurement activity with business priorities
- Provide procurement and category expertise to internal teams with product, supplier, and pricing insights
- Collaborate with colleagues to support new product introductions, supplier selection, and category development opportunities
- Build strong internal relationships to ensure effective execution of sourcing and category plans
- Monitor supply market trends, competitor activity, and customer requirements to inform procurement decisions
- Identify opportunities to improve range performance, introduce new products, strengthen sourcing options, and respond to changes in demand
- Track sales, margins, supplier performance, and sourcing effectiveness to evaluate category success
- Prepare reports and present category and procurement performance data to key stakeholders
- Maintain accurate product, supplier, and pricing data, ensuring systems and reporting remain up to date
- Support procurement governance, sourcing controls, and compliance with internal commercial processes
Experience & Skills
Essential- Proven experience in a Procurement Category Manager, Category Manager, Buyer, or similar commercial/procurement role
- Experience working with medical consumables, healthcare products, veterinary products, or a related sector
- Strong sourcing, negotiation, and supplier management skills
- Commercial awareness with the ability to analyse data and make informed procurement decisions
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- CIPS qualification (or working towards) would be advantageous
- Knowledge of the veterinary or animal health market
- Experience using category management, procurement, or ERP systems
Cultural Fit
We are looking for a proactive, commercially minded professional who thrives in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment. You will combine strong analytical capability with excellent negotiation and relationship-building skills, ensuring the business achieves both cost efficiency and commercial success. If you are motivated by ownership, enjoy influencing strategic decisions, and want to make a tangible impact within a collaborative and ambitious organisation, this role is for you.
What We Offer
Our benefits are designed to support you both in and outside of work, including:
- Up to 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays), plus an additional day off for your birthday
- Enhanced family leave and sickness policies, plus a Life Assurance scheme
- Health support including 24/7 Private GP access, mental health support, Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing platforms, and “Tooth Fairy”
- Financial support including salary sacrifice schemes, employee discounts, and early salary drawdown access
- Staff recognition scheme and regular social events
Procurement Category Manager in Stockport employer: IMS Euro Ltd
IMS Euro is an award-winning medical supplies company that prides itself on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture, where employees are encouraged to grow and collaborate. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, we offer generous benefits such as up to 33 days of annual leave, enhanced family leave policies, and comprehensive health support, making us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the procurement sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Category Manager in Stockport
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues 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 interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their products and market position, especially in medical consumables. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Procurement Category Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play with a friend or use online resources to sharpen those skills before the big day.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to 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 Manager in Stockport
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Procurement Category Manager role. Highlight your experience with medical consumables and any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your procurement successes and how they relate to our needs at IMS Euro. Let us know what excites you about working with us!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since this role requires strong analytical capabilities, make sure to include examples of how you've used data to drive procurement decisions in the past. We love seeing candidates who can back up their claims with solid evidence!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our dynamic team at IMS Euro!
How to prepare for a job interview at IMS Euro Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into IMS Euro's products and services, especially in the medical consumables sector. Familiarise yourself with their key suppliers and competitors. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you articulate how your skills can directly benefit their procurement strategy.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare specific examples of past negotiations you've led, particularly in procurement or supplier management. Highlight how you achieved cost savings or improved supplier relationships. This will demonstrate your capability to drive value and performance in the role of Procurement Category Manager.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since this role involves working closely with various departments, be ready to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with teams like Sales, Marketing, or Finance in previous roles. Share examples that showcase your ability to align procurement activities with broader business objectives.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about IMS Euro's procurement strategies, market trends, and future goals. This shows your genuine interest in the company and the role, while also giving you valuable insights into how you can contribute to their success.
