Procurement Manager - Senior Buyer - Indirect Category Manager in Manchester

Procurement Manager - Senior Buyer / Category Manager position with a well-established manufacturing business in Manchester, offering a salary of £60,000 - £65,000 plus bonus and a hybrid working arrangement.

This role is within the FMCG - Manufacturing industry and is based in Manchester.

We're seeking a commercially astute Indirect Procurement / Senior Buyer / Category Manager to join a growing procurement function, driving strategic sourcing initiatives across a diverse range of indirect categories. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining strategic category management with stakeholder engagement, supplier development, and delivering measurable business value.

Working in a hybrid environment, you'll partner with manufacturing sites and business functions across multiple locations to optimise spend, mitigate risk, and support operational excellence.

Description

As Procurement Manager/ Senior Buyer / Category Manager, you will develop and execute sourcing strategies across a broad indirect spend portfolio, including:

• Facilities Management
• Utilities
• Site Services
• PPE
• Professional Services
• Other indirect expenditure categories

You will play a key role in delivering cost optimisation, supplier performance improvements, contract governance, sustainability objectives, and long-term procurement value.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing projects, tenders, RFQs and negotiations.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimisation and efficiency improvements.
• Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles when evaluating suppliers and procurement solutions.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with company policies, governance standards and delegated authorities.
• Build and maintain effective supplier partnerships.
• Negotiate robust commercial agreements and contracts.
• Drive supplier performance, service improvements and innovation.
• Manage supplier risk, business continuity and contractual compliance.
• Support responsible sourcing and ESG objectives across the supply base.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with operational, engineering, manufacturing and corporate stakeholders.
• Understand business requirements and translate them into procurement strategies.
• Influence decision-making and provide commercial procurement expertise.
• Collaborate across functions to deliver procurement and operational objectives.

Cost & Value Delivery

• Deliver validated savings and cost avoidance initiatives.
• Support annual budgeting and spend forecasting processes.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation and specification improvements.
• Track and report procurement benefits and performance metrics.

  Market Analysis & Reporting

  • Monitor market trends and supplier developments.
  • Analyse spend data and procurement performance.
  • Maintain accurate supplier, contract and sourcing records.
  • Provide regular reporting and procurement insights to leadership teams.

  Profile

  We're looking for a proactive procurement professional who combines strong commercial acumen with excellent stakeholder management skills.

  • Minimum 4 years' experience within Indirect Procurement, Strategic Sourcing or Category Management.
  • Experience within a manufacturing, FMCG, industrial or engineering environment.
  • Proven track record delivering savings and procurement value.
  • Experience managing indirect spend categories and supplier relationships.
  • Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
  • Experience leading tender and RFQ processes from inception through to implementation.

  Skills & Attributes

  • Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
  • Commercially minded with excellent analytical capabilities.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
  • Proactive and self-motivated approach.
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Resilient, adaptable and solutions-focused.
  • Passion for continuous improvement and supplier innovation

  Job Offer

  • Competitive salary of £60,000 + Car Allowance + Bonus
  • Opportunity to influence procurement strategy across multiple sites
  • Exposure to a substantial indirect spend portfolio
  • Career development within a dynamic manufacturing environment that is growing the team
  • Collaborative and supportive leadership team