Global engineering business require a Category Manager / Senior Category Buyer. Applicants need strategic procurement expertise, ideally in the areas of negotiating and managing long term supplier agreements, supplier relationship management and budget adherence.

The Category Manager will be responsible for driving strategic procurement activities across a number of direct spend areas (machined parts, raw materials, fabrications) and ensuring the supply chain is able to support NPI initiatives. Reporting to a Head of Procurement., the Category Manager will drive the strategic performance of a suite of critical suppliers while maintaining commercially robust contract agreements. The Category Manager will be supported by Operational Buyers in regards to execution of category strategies, and day-to-day supplier management activities.

Specific duties of the Category Manager include:

• Review current supplier agreements
• Negotiation of LTAs with existing and new potential suppliers
• Strategic supplier relationship management - promote innovation, collaboration and drive improved performance
• Align category performance and contractual agreements with wider business goals
• Support NPI activities from a procurement perspective, and ensure adequate capability of supply chain partners
• Make vs. Buy activities
• Analysis of category and supplier performance data to drive procurement decision making
• Support Operational Buyers in regards to tactical execution of contracts and MRP activity
• Liaison with stakeholders in; Engineering, Production, Projects and Manufacturing

Category Manager applicants should meet the following criteria:

• Procurement experience at a strategic level - Senior Buyer, Strategic Buyer, Category Buyer, Category Manager, Procurement Manager
• Experience of strategically managing suppliers and knowledge of modern supplier relationship management techniques
• Ability to negotiate and manage contractual agreements
• Ability to mentor and develop junior staff, allocation of workload etc.
• Data analysis skills
• Familiar with a category management or commodity management approach to procurement