Senior Category Manager – Direct Materials (Mechanical Categories)
📍 Location: Paddington, London (1 day/week on-site)
📅 Contract: Until end of June 2026 (highly likely to extend)
Are you a strategic sourcing expert with a passion for driving supplier performance and innovation across complex mechanical categories? We’re looking for a Senior Category Manager to lead direct materials procurement across EMEA, supporting high-impact engineering and operations teams.
🔧 Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Execution
* Develop and execute regional sourcing strategies aligned with global objectives.
* Lead supplier selection, negotiation, and contracting processes.
* Drive cost reduction and value engineering initiatives.
* Collaborate with suppliers on sustainability and product improvement efforts.
Supplier Performance & Relationship Management
* Monitor supplier KPIs (e.g. On-Time Delivery, Right-First-Time, H&S compliance).
* Lead Quarterly/Strategic Business Reviews (QBR/SBR) with a focus on actionable outcomes.
* Manage supplier relationships including contracts, risk, and quality assessments.
Stakeholder Engagement
* Partner with cross-functional teams to align on technical and operational needs.
* Act as a strategic advisor to project teams, proactively resolving supply risks.
* Work end-to-end with engineering and operations to ensure category success.
Process & Systems
* Standardise procurement processes (PO, RFP, Award) to meet delivery SLAs.
* Support implementation and optimisation of systems (SAP, Ariba, iCertis, MDM, IBP).
* Champion process simplification, digitisation, and AI-driven procurement tools.
People & Culture
* Promote diversity and inclusion in supplier engagements.
* Mentor junior team members and contribute to regional capability building.
🌟 What We’re Looking For
* 7+ years’ experience in strategic sourcing and category management for direct materials.
* Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills with a proven track record in cost reduction.
* Experience in datacenter or industrial procurement environments.
* Proficiency in procurement systems (SAP, Ariba, iCertis).
* Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
* Degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or Technology (Master’s preferred).
* Experience working in a complex multinational organisation.
🤝 Desirable Attributes
* Ability to navigate matrix organisations and influence without authority.
* Detail-oriented with the ability to zoom out for strategic reporting.
* Familiarity with supplier performance frameworks and technical submittals.
* Growth mindset and commitment to continuous improvement.
* Collaborative team player with global cultural awareness.