Category buyer - 12-month contract

Job Description

Category Buyer

£42.77 per Hour | £316.50 per Day | 12-Month Contract |Peterborough | Fully Onsite | Working Hours Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 4:00pm Friday: 8:00am - 1:00pm

Drive Procurement Strategy. Influence Supplier Performance. Deliver Real Business Impact.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Category Buyer to join a globally operating organisation on an initial 12-month contract with the potential for extension.

This role offers the chance to take ownership of category strategy, supplier performance, commercial negotiations, and sourcing initiatives that directly impact operational efficiency and business performance. You'll work within a collaborative global procurement environment, partnering with stakeholders and suppliers to deliver cost savings, improve quality, reduce risk, and strengthen supply chain resilience.

If you're a commercially minded procurement professional who enjoys influencing decisions, negotiating value, and driving supplier excellence, this could be the ideal next step in your career.

The Role

As a Category Buyer, you will play a key role in developing and executing procurement strategies that deliver measurable value across the business.

You will be responsible for:

• Developing and implementing category strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Identifying and delivering cost reduction opportunities.
• Supporting inventory optimisation and quality improvement initiatives.
• Managing supplier relationships and performance.
• Leading supplier negotiations and commercial discussions.
• Conducting sourcing activities and procurement projects.
• Assessing supplier and commercial risks.
• Monitoring supplier delivery, quality and service performance.
• Working closely with internal stakeholders to support operational requirements.
• Driving continuous improvement across procurement processes and supply networks.

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience

• Previous experience as a Category Buyer, Procurement Buyer, Strategic Buyer or similar procurement professional.
• Strong background in supplier management and supplier performance monitoring.
• Experience negotiating contracts, pricing and commercial agreements.
• Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication abilities.
• Experience working within structured procurement and purchasing environments.

Highly Desirable

• Manufacturing, engineering, industrial or technical sector experience.
• Strategic sourcing experience.
• Supplier relationship management expertise.
• Procurement-related qualifications or degree-level education.

Key Skills

• Category Management
• Strategic Sourcing
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Procurement & Purchasing
• Commercial Negotiation
• Data Analysis & Reporting
• Cost Reduction Initiatives
• Stakeholder Management
• Risk Assessment
• Supply Chain Procurement

What's In It For You?

? Opportunity to work within a global procurement function

? High-impact role with ownership of strategic sourcing activities

? Exposure to supplier negotiations and category management initiatives

? Collaborative international team environment

? Immediate start available

Interview Process

• One-stage Teams interview
• 60-minute interview
• Competency and procurement-focused questions
• STAR-based assessment approach

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