Category Manager

Category Manager Location: Warrington (Hybrid Working Available) Salary: Competitive Salary + Benefits Role: Full Time | Permanent About the Role: We’re looking for an experienced and commercially driven Category Manager to join our Procurement team. In this role, you’ll take ownership of a defined category of spend, delivering high-quality procurement solutions to both internal stakeholders and external customers. You’ll play a key role in shaping category strategy, driving value, and building strong supplier and customer relationships—while leading a team of Buyers and Senior Buyers to deliver best-in-class procurement services.

Key Responsibilities: Develop and deliver strategic category plans, driving growth and financial performance Lead procurement activities including tendering, benchmarking, and mini-competitions Manage supplier relationships, ensuring strong performance and service delivery Analyse financial and statistical data to identify opportunities and inform decision-making Contribute to thought leadership and innovation within your category Oversee contract management, ensuring commercial and operational success Engage with customers and stakeholders to promote value and deliver tailored solutions Lead, coach, and develop a team of Buyers and Senior Buyers Ensure compliance with procurement regulations and internal processes Produce reports and insights for senior leadership and external stakeholders About You: You’ll be a confident and influential procurement professional with strong commercial awareness and leadership capability. Proven experience in a Category Manager or senior procurement role Strong knowledge of procurement frameworks and large-scale projects Experience managing and developing teams Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities The ability to communicate complex solutions clearly and effectively A proactive, flexible, and results-driven approach Requirements: Degree-level education or equivalent experience CIPS membership (or working towards) Experience in sectors such as housing, healthcare, or higher education Knowledge of public sector procurement regulations (including EU frameworks) Full UK driving licence What We Offer: Competitive salary and benefits package Hybrid working options Career development and professional training Opportunity to work on impactful, large-scale procurement projects A collaborative and supportive team environment