Category Buyer

Purpose of the Role

You will develop category strategies, source and negotiate with suppliers, manage contracts, and build strong stakeholder relationships. The role focuses on delivering value through cost savings, service improvements, risk reduction, and supplier performance while ensuring all procurement activities support business objectives and compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver procurement strategies for IT, HR, PMC, and Administration categories.
• Analyse spend, market trends, and supplier capabilities to identify cost-saving and value-creation opportunities.
• Consolidate purchasing requirements across locations to maximise buying power.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including tenders, RFQs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and contract awards.
• Prepare sourcing documents, commercial evaluations, and supplier comparisons.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, service levels, and contracts to achieve the best commercial outcomes.
• Balance cost, quality, service, and risk to deliver best value.
• Monitor supplier performance against agreed KPIs and SLAs.
• Conduct supplier reviews and manage improvement plans where needed.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across IT, HR, Finance, Operations, Legal, HSE, and site teams.
• Act as the procurement lead and trusted adviser for assigned categories.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, governance requirements, and relevant regulations.

Key Performance Measures

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Delivery of cost savings and cost avoidance.
• Spend under procurement management.
• Successful implementation of category strategies.
• Supplier performance and SLA achievement.
• Contract coverage and renewal management.
• Effectiveness of sourcing and tendering activities.
• Procurement cycle times and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Compliance with procurement policies and processes.
• Supplier consolidation and standardisation initiatives.
• Risk reduction and business continuity improvements.
• Value generated through cross-site procurement projects.

Skills & Experience

• Degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related field.
• CIPS qualification (or working towards one) desirable.
• Proven experience in category buying or procurement within a complex or multi-site organisation.
• Experience managing indirect spend categories, particularly IT, HR, professional services, HSE, and administration.
• Strong background in strategic sourcing, tendering, negotiation, contract management, and supplier performance management.
• Experience managing procurement across multiple sites or business units.
• Strong commercial, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in ERP and procurement systems such as SAP/Ariba, with advanced Excel skills.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate will be:

• Commercially aware and results-driven.
• Analytical and comfortable working with data.
• A confident negotiator and influencer.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Self-motivated, while also working effectively within cross-functional teams.
• Highly organised, with strong attention to detail.

What You'll Get

We offer a competitive and evolving rewards package, including:

• Private healthcare
• Company bonus scheme
• Enhanced parental leave
• Flexible benefits cash allowance
• Wellbeing support through YuLife
• Flexible working environment that promotes work-life balance