Group Category Manager in Northampton

Looking for a career where your ambition meets real opportunity? Join Persimmon Homes as Group Category Manager and step into a role where your success is celebrated, your growth supported, and your work truly matters.

Why Persimmon Homes? We’re one of the UK’s largest and most established housebuilders — FTSE 100 listed, with 29 regional offices and thousands of quality homes built every year. At Persimmon, we don’t just build homes — we build careers.

When you join us as a Group Category Manager you’ll benefit from:

• 5* housebuilder - Be part of a company that consistently delivers quality homes and outstanding customer satisfaction
• Life Cover & Contributory Pension
• Bonus
• Employee Benefits Platform – giving you access to high‑street discounts, wellbeing support, and more
• Committed to diversity, inclusion, and empowering your development
• Hybrid Working

What is the role? As a Group Category Manager, you will support the delivery of procurement and category strategies that drive value, quality and performance across the supply chain. Working with suppliers and stakeholders, you will contribute to sourcing activities, supplier management, spend analysis and continuous improvement initiatives, helping to deliver commercial benefits and support business objectives. This role offers excellent exposure to strategic procurement activities and provides an ideal platform for someone looking to further develop their commercial and category management expertise within a large, dynamic organisation.

What you’ll do as a Group Category Manager:

• Conduct market, supplier and spend analysis to identify cost‑saving opportunities and support informed decision‑making.
• Manage sourcing and tender activities in line with procurement policies and best practice.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance and support continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain.
• Assist with supplier onboarding, contract administration, and framework agreement management.
• Support demand planning, supplier capacity reviews, and risk assessment activities.
• Contribute to the introduction of new products, technologies, and innovative supply chain solutions while supporting sustainability and responsible sourcing initiatives.
• Promote procurement governance, standardised processes, and best practice across the organisation.
• Undertake additional duties as required to support the procurement team, commensurate with the level of the role.

What experience do I need?

• Degree qualified in Business, Procurement, Supply Chain Management or a related discipline.
• Experience in procurement, commercial or supply chain roles, including placements or internships.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills with the ability to interpret data and identify value‑adding opportunities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, with awareness of ERP and Procure-to-Pay (P2P) systems.
• Good understanding of procurement principles, supplier management and contract administration, with a keen interest in category management and strategic sourcing.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proactive approach to problem‑solving; CIPS qualification (or willingness to work towards one) is desirable.