At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement for exciting capital projects, ensuring governance and commercial value.
- Company: Join a major UK industrial group with a focus on innovation and growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, bonus, and comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Flexible home-based role with national travel across the UK.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with significant capital investment opportunities.
- Qualifications: Proven CAPEX procurement experience and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 85000 € per year.
A major UK industrial group is seeking an experienced Category Manager – Engineering & Capital Projects to lead end-to-end procurement across a substantial and growing portfolio of capital projects. This is a high-visibility, stakeholder-facing role partnering with engineering and project teams nationwide to ensure strong governance, commercial value, risk mitigation and compliant delivery across a complex capital investment programme.
The Opportunity
Capital investment is accelerating significantly, with annual CAPEX rising toward £200m and a live portfolio of over 1000 projects at any one time. This role operates within the core delivery band of projects typically valued between £0.5m and £3m, where you will take direct procurement ownership. Projects above this band are supported at Group level, but you may interface where required. Given the volume and scale of investment, success in this role requires intelligent prioritisation, pipeline ownership and the ability to embed structured processes that enable safe and compliant "self-serve" activity within the wider project community.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead capital procurement activity for a portfolio of projects typically within the £0.5m‑£3m range, prioritising effectively to maximise commercial impact.
- Own the sourcing lifecycle once projects reach procurement stage: tendering, negotiation, contracting, governance and delivery follow‑through.
- Partner closely with engineering and project stakeholders nationally, maintaining visible engagement and ensuring procurement governance remains embedded.
- Apply structured sourcing discipline and robust commercial thinking, including risk management, payment structures, contract controls and total cost of ownership evaluation.
- Embed practical tools and capability within the business (e.g., contract templates, guardrails, foundational guidance) to reduce risk where direct procurement involvement is not feasible.
- Operate confidently in a large, complex organisation where approvals may take time; maintain resilience and momentum across multiple concurrent projects.
What We Are Looking For
- Proven CAPEX procurement experience, with clear evidence of leading sourcing events and negotiating commercial agreements within capital projects.
- Strong appreciation that "specification is king" in capital environments, with the ability to challenge and shape scope before tender.
- Experience selecting and managing EPC, turnkey or multi‑lot contracting strategies.
- Desirable familiarity with model‑formed contracts such as NEC and/or FIDIC.
- Strong stakeholder management capability – visible, proactive, assertive and commercially credible.
- Experience within heavy industry, construction materials, utilities, chemicals or large multi‑site manufacturing environments is highly advantageous.
- Transferable CAPEX backgrounds will be considered where governance and contracting exposure is strong.
- This role requires drive and self‑motivation. You will not be handed a weekly project list – you must build and manage your own pipeline and remain front and centre with project teams.
Location & Travel
This is a National Field-Based / Home-Based role. There is no expectation of daily head office attendance. Success is driven by engagement with project stakeholders across the UK, with travel ranging from Scotland to the South Coast depending on project location. Candidates should ideally be centrally located with strong motorway/rail connectivity, but flexibility exists provided national travel is acceptable.
Package
- Very competitive base salary
- Car allowance (c£7,500) or company car
- 15% bonus
- Private medical (family cover)
- Full blue‑chip benefits package
Why you should apply?
The breadth of capital exposure, scale of investment and long‑term career platform within a major industrial group offer significant professional development opportunity.
Category Manager - Engineering & Capital Projects in Lincoln employer: Martin Veasey Talent Solutions
Join a leading UK industrial group as a Category Manager – Engineering & Capital Projects, where you will play a pivotal role in managing a substantial portfolio of capital projects. With a competitive salary, car allowance, and a comprehensive benefits package, this position offers a unique opportunity for professional growth within a dynamic work culture that values stakeholder engagement and innovative procurement strategies. Enjoy the flexibility of a national field-based role, allowing you to connect with project teams across the UK while contributing to impactful capital investments.
Contact Detail:
Martin Veasey Talent Solutions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager - Engineering & Capital Projects in Lincoln
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts and attend relevant events. 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 projects. Show them you understand their needs and how your experience in CAPEX procurement can add value to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Category Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play with a friend or mentor to build confidence.
✨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 Category Manager - Engineering & Capital Projects in Lincoln
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Category Manager role. Highlight your CAPEX procurement experience and any relevant projects you've managed. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
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 stakeholder management and procurement successes that relate to engineering and capital projects.
Showcase Your Commercial Acumen:In your application, demonstrate your understanding of commercial value and risk management. We’re looking for someone who can think strategically about procurement, so don’t hold back on sharing your insights!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to join our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Martin Veasey Talent Solutions
✨Know Your CAPEX Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your capital expenditure knowledge. Understand the nuances of procurement in capital projects, especially within the £0.5m to £3m range. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience where you've successfully led sourcing events and negotiated contracts.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since this role involves a lot of stakeholder management, practice how you'll engage with engineering and project teams. Prepare to share how you've maintained strong relationships in previous roles and how you plan to ensure procurement governance is embedded in their processes.
✨Demonstrate Structured Thinking
Showcase your ability to apply structured sourcing discipline. Be prepared to discuss risk management strategies, payment structures, and total cost of ownership evaluations. Think about practical tools you've implemented in the past that could reduce risks in procurement.
✨Be Ready for Real-World Scenarios
Expect situational questions that test your problem-solving skills in a complex organisation. Prepare examples where you've had to manage multiple projects simultaneously and how you maintained momentum despite potential delays in approvals. This will highlight your resilience and self-motivation.
