Category Manager
TipTopJob – West Midlands, England, United Kingdom
Sector: Advanced Manufacturing
Location: Birmingham: Hybrid – 3 days on site
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
Salary: Up to GBP 55,000 + excellent benefits
Role
A leading global manufacturer with a strong reputation for engineering excellence is seeking an experienced Category Manager to take ownership of a substantial spend portfolio across indirect goods and services, aftermarket components, and NPD support.
Responsibilities
* Develop and deliver category strategies across multiple indirect and aftermarket categories.
* Conduct spend analysis, demand forecasting and market intelligence to identify optimisation opportunities.
* Build multi‑year plans for supplier development, sustainability, and risk mitigation.
* Drive alignment across departments to optimise total cost of ownership.
* Monitor KPIs and adjust strategies to deliver measurable value.
* Integrate procurement into early‑stage product development activities.
* Engage suppliers early to influence cost, design and manufacturability.
* Identify, evaluate and develop suppliers globally.
* Lead RFP/RFQ processes and negotiate robust commercial agreements.
* Ensure compliance with category strategy and internal requirements.
Qualifications
Essential
* Minimum 2 years’ experience in a procurement leadership or management role.
* Experience working in a manufacturing or engineering environment.
* Strong commercial acumen with experience of managing significant spend and multiple projects.
* Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems.
* Excellent negotiation, problem‑solving and stakeholder‑management skills.
* Highly accurate with strong attention to detail.
Desirable
* CIPS Level 4+ or relevant equivalent.
* Experience in technical manufacturing or food processing environments.
* Project management experience.
Next Steps
If this role aligns with your experience, we would love to discuss your CV and application further.
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