Category Manager in Market Drayton

Category Manager – Professional Services
Market Drayton
Are you an experienced Category Manager who enjoys getting under the skin of a business, challenging established thinking and turning procurement strategy into measurable results?
We’re looking for a Category Manager – Professional Services to join our Indirect Procurement team and take ownership of an important area of spend.
This isn't a role where you'll simply develop a category strategy and hand it over. You'll work across the full procurement lifecycle, combining strategic category management with hands-on delivery, from identifying opportunities and shaping sourcing strategies through to negotiation, contracting, implementation and ongoing supplier performance.
What you'll be doing
You'll take ownership of your category, developing and delivering strategies that create value beyond traditional cost savings.
Working closely with senior stakeholders across areas including HR, Finance and Legal, you'll build a strong understanding of business requirements and use market insight, commercial expertise and data to influence decisions and identify opportunities.
You'll also:
Develop and implement end-to-end category and sourcing strategies
Lead complex sourcing activity and commercial negotiations
Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, operating as a trusted procurement partner
Use supplier-market insight, data, pricing models and cost drivers to identify opportunities and support commercial decisions
Structure and optimise commercial agreements, working closely with Legal and other stakeholders
Manage supplier relationships, performance and commercial outcomes
Identify opportunities to improve processes and ways of working
Support procurement transformation, including increased use of digital procurement tools and automation
Remain involved through implementation and delivery, ensuring strategies translate into measurable business outcomes.
What we're looking for
We're looking for an established Category Manager with strong experience across Indirect Procurement.
Experience within Professional Services or HR Services would be particularly relevant, including areas such as staffing, MSP, consulting or wider HR-related services. However, we're also interested in strong
Category Managers from other complex indirect categories who can demonstrate transferable commercial expertise.
You'll bring:
Strong experience developing and executing category strategies
A commercial mindset and good understanding of supplier markets, pricing models and cost drivers
Experience leading complex sourcing activities and negotiations
Strong contract structuring and commercial management capability
The credibility to influence, challenge and partner with senior stakeholders
The ability to use data and market insight to support decisions and turn analysis into action
Experience across end-to-end procurement processes, including Source-to-Contract and Procure-to-Pay
A track record of delivering measurable value and business impact, not simply cost savings
The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution
Experience of procurement technology such as SAP and/or Ariba, alongside an interest in process improvement and procurement transformation.
Experience within FMCG, pharmaceuticals or procurement consulting would be beneficial, but isn't essential. Marketing category experience could also be useful.
What will make you successful
You'll be comfortable taking ownership rather than waiting for direction. You'll be able to move between strategy and operational delivery, challenge constructively and bring new thinking into the business.
Just as importantly, you'll understand that great procurement isn't only about achieving a saving. It's about making commercially sound decisions, managing risk, improving supplier performance and creating sustainable value for the wider business.
Benefits
In return for your commitment, drive and enthusiasm, we offer our employees numerous benefits as part of your employment, including:
Bonus scheme of up to 10%
Contributory pension plan – up to 8% matched
Life Assurance x4 salary
Private healthcare cover
Employee Assistance Programme
25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, increasing with service.
Holiday buy/sell programme
Flexible benefits programme
In addition, our employees have access to a Rewards Benefits Programme, giving you a range of discounts across 800 retailers online and in store
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