Category Manager (Hybrid) - Milton Keynes, Head Office
2 days in office, 3 days WFH.
Working here at Group 1 Automotive as a Category Manager you will be responsible for developing and implementing procurement strategies across a range of indirect category areas. You'll work closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers to drive value, ensure cost efficiency, and deliver measurable results, while building strong collaborative relationships across the business.
As part of a successful, global automotive group, you'll broaden your experience across both sites and brands. And with the right support from us, you'll be able to progress as high as you can aim.
What we can offer you
* Enjoy 33 days (pro-rata) of annual leave (including bank holidays) to rest and recharge
* Save money every day with our exclusive retail discounts
* Drive a great deal with discounts on new and used cars, plus servicing offers
* Plan for the years ahead with our company pension scheme
* Balance home and work with our industry-leading family-friendly policies designed to help you spend more time with the people that matter
* Commute for less with our cycle-to-work scheme
* Prioritise your wellbeing with dedicated support for you and your family
* 24/7 access to healthcare professionals, ensuring you get the expert advice you need quickly and easily
* Make a difference with a paid day to volunteer in your community
* Invest in your future with our company share purchase plan
* Earn financial rewards when you refer a friend to join the team
* Keep learning and growing with our training and development opportunities for everyone.
* Life assurance with the option to increase cover
* We're open to flexible working options – just ask
What you'll do day to day
* Develop and implement procurement strategies for assigned indirect category areas (HR, IT, marketing, facilities management, utilities, aftersales, finance).
* Lead supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, and ongoing relationship management.
* Conduct regular spend analysis and market reviews to identify cost-saving opportunities and drive innovation.
* Collaborate with internal stakeholders and senior leadership to support business priorities.
* Liaise with dealerships and suppliers to resolve operational issues and escalate when necessary.
* Maintain accurate procurement records and ensure compliance with company policies and industry standards.
* Deliver measurable cost savings and process efficiencies while maintaining procurement governance.
* Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to optimise procurement processes.
* Support procurement operations through strategic sourcing, supplier engagement, and category planning.
Helpful skills and qualifications
Don't worry about ticking off every single skill here if you care about delivering great experiences as much as we do, we want to hear from you.
* 5+ years' experience in procurement or category management, preferably indirect categories, MCIPS qualified or studying towards.
* Strong negotiation, contract, and supplier management skills.
* Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship-building abilities.
* Analytical with Excel and procurement software knowledge.
* Commercial thinker, adaptable, with excellent communication and multi-tasking skills.
Be part of something big
Group 1 Automotive is on an exciting growth journey. We are home to over 7000 colleagues dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, with 114 dealerships in the UK, representing 21 brands at the forefront of automotive retail.
But you don't need to love cars to work with us - just need to share our mission to create outstanding and trusted experiences for our customers, our partners, and our people.
Our Values
At Group 1 Automotive we pride ourselves on our five core values that are incorporated in all we that do.
Respect - Integrity - Transparency - Teamwork – Professionalism
These are the principles that every member of our team lives by, whether that be business functions, customer interactions, how we interact with the local community and even how we view each other in the team.