Category Lead/Manager – Fleet & Indirect Procurement

Category Lead/Manager – Fleet & Indirect Procurement

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 Β£ / year (est.) No working from home possible
WPS

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead fleet procurement and manage indirect spend categories for a dynamic organisation.
  • Company: Join WPS, a collaborative team making impactful procurement decisions.
  • Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and the chance to influence significant budgets.
  • Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to work with senior leaders.
  • Why this job: Shape procurement strategies and drive cost savings while managing a large fleet.
  • Qualifications: Experience in fleet management and strong negotiation skills required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 Β£ per year.

Category Lead/Manager – Fleet & Indirect Procurement

Location

Flexible / Hybrid (Finsbury Park, London)

Reporting to

Head of Procurement

About the Role

WPS is seeking an experienced

Category Manager – Fleet & Indirect Procurement to take ownership of one of our most critical spend categories while supporting wider indirect procurement activities across the business.

This is a highly autonomous role, with approximately

60% of your time focused on fleet procurement and fleet management activities and the remaining

40% dedicated to broader indirect procurement categories such as IT, HR Services, Professional Services, Office Supplies, PPE and other overhead spend.

We are looking for a procurement professional who can operate independently, build strong stakeholder relationships, and bring proven experience managing a large operational vehicle fleet.

Key Responsibilities

  • Fleet Procurement (Primary Focus)
  • Lead the procurement and category management of a fleet of approximately 2,000 operational vehicles.
  • Develop fleet strategies that deliver cost savings, operational efficiency and compliance.
  • Manage vehicle procurement, specification, fit-out and supplier selection.
  • Evaluate and recommend funding options including leasing, purchasing and financing.
  • Build robust business cases for fleet investment and replacement programmes.

Manage key fleet spend areas including

  • Vans and operational vehicles
  • Fuel and EV solutions
  • Company cars
  • Salary sacrifice schemes
  • Vehicle maintenance and repair contracts
  • Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement.
  • Indirect Procurement
  • Develop and implement category strategies across indirect spend areas.
  • Identify opportunities for cost reduction, cost avoidance and value creation.

Manage categories including

  • IT Services
  • Recruitment
  • HR Services
  • Professional Services
  • PPE
  • Utilities
  • Travel and associated overhead spend
  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align procurement strategies with business objectives.
  • Build strong relationships across the business and with external suppliers.
  • Influence decision-making at all levels of the organisation.
  • Support operational teams with supplier management and procurement best practice.
  • Lead commercial negotiations and contract discussions.

About You

We're looking for someone who can hit the ground running and confidently manage a large fleet category whilst balancing wider indirect procurement responsibilities.

  • Proven experience in

Fleet Procurement or Fleet Category Management .

  • Experience managing operational fleet vehicles and vans .
  • Previous responsibility for a fleet of approximately

2,000 vehicles or similar scale .

  • Strong indirect procurement/category management experience.
  • Experience delivering cost savings, rebates and commercial value.
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Skills & Knowledge

  • Excellent negotiation and supplier management skills.
  • Strong analytical and commercial acumen.
  • Experience using procurement and reporting tools.
  • Knowledge of compliance, governance and risk management.
  • Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
  • Understanding of sustainable procurement and fleet strategies.

Qualifications

  • Degree level education or equivalent experience preferred.
  • CIPS qualification or working towards CIPS would be advantageous.

Why Join WPS?

  • Opportunity to lead a significant fleet spend portfolio of approximately

Β£18m annually .

  • Influence procurement strategy across a broader indirect spend portfolio of approximately

Β£60m annually .

  • Work closely with senior business leaders.
  • Be part of a collaborative procurement team driving meaningful business value.

If you are an experienced fleet procurement professional looking for a broad category management role with genuine strategic impact, we'd love to hear from you.

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Category Lead/Manager – Fleet & Indirect Procurement employer: WPS

WPS is an exceptional employer that prioritises the professional growth of its employees while fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture. As the Executive Risk & Assurance Lead, you will have the unique opportunity to influence strategic decisions at the Board level, supported by a commitment to employee development and a proactive approach to risk management. Located in a dynamic environment, WPS offers a range of benefits that enhance work-life balance and promote a strong sense of community among its staff.

WPS

Contact Details:

WPS Recruitment Team

We think you need these skills to ace Category Lead/Manager – Fleet & Indirect Procurement

Fleet Procurement
Category Management
Supplier Management
Negotiation Skills
Analytical Skills
Commercial Acumen
Stakeholder Management