Procurement Category Manager – Medical Consumables
Location: Hybrid (3-4 days at our Stockport Head office)
Department: Procurement
Company Overview
IMS Euro is a successful, award‑winning medical supplies company with over 30 years of industry experience, present in UK and EU. We are a trusted supplier of high‑quality animal health and veterinary consumables to a wide range of clients, including veterinary hospitals and practices, universities, research institutions, and other professional animal care providers.
As a fast‑growing business, we take pride in delivering reliable, innovative, and cost‑effective products that support the vital work of animal health professionals across the UK and Europe. Today, IMS Euro employs over 100 talented professionals, fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and supportive culture where people are encouraged to grow, collaborate, and achieve their full potential.
Role Purpose
We are seeking a commercially astute and proactive Procurement Category Manager to lead the procurement and performance of our medical consumables portfolio, with a particular emphasis on branded products, supplier relationships, and value delivery.
This role is responsible for driving category performance through strategic sourcing, supplier management, cost control, market insight, and cross‑functional collaboration. You will work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure products remain competitive, commercially viable, and aligned with business and customer needs.
The successful candidate will bring strong analytical, sourcing, and negotiation skills, helping to optimise supplier performance, improve margin, mitigate supply risk, and support the business in delivering value to both customers and stakeholders.
Key Deliverables
* Manage and optimise procurement performance across the medical consumables category
* Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure service, quality, continuity, and commercial performance
* Identify and deliver cost‑saving, value improvement, and sourcing opportunities
* Support procurement strategy and range development through market and competitor analysis
* Provide procurement insight and recommendations to internal stakeholders
Key Responsibilities
Procurement Strategy & Cost Management
* Develop and implement procurement category plans for branded medical consumables in line with business objectives
* Review supplier pricing and product performance, identifying opportunities for cost reduction, value improvement, and margin enhancement
* Manage sourcing decisions, pricing, rebates, and cost structures to ensure commercial competitiveness
* Monitor category performance against KPIs and report on procurement outcomes
Supplier Management & Negotiation
* Build and maintain effective supplier relationships, ensuring high levels of service, product quality, reliability, and value
* Lead negotiations on pricing, supplier terms, rebate agreements, and commercial conditions to achieve procurement targets
* Support supplier reviews and identify performance, compliance, and improvement opportunities
* Work collaboratively with suppliers to support continuity of supply and effective contract delivery
Collaboration & Internal Relationships
* Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Finance to align procurement activity with business priorities
* Provide procurement and category expertise to internal teams with product, supplier, and pricing insights
* Collaborate with colleagues to support new product introductions, supplier selection, and category development opportunities
* Build strong internal relationships to ensure effective execution of sourcing and category plans
Market Insight & Commercial Performance
* Monitor supply market trends, competitor activity, and customer requirements to inform procurement decisions
* Identify opportunities to improve range performance, introduce new products, strengthen sourcing options, and respond to changes in demand
* Track sales, margins, supplier performance, and sourcing effectiveness to evaluate category success
Reporting & Governance
* Prepare reports and present category and procurement performance data to key stakeholders
* Maintain accurate product, supplier, and pricing data, ensuring systems and reporting remain up to date
* Support procurement governance, sourcing controls, and compliance with internal commercial processes
Experience & Skills
Essential
* Proven experience in a Procurement Category Manager, Category Manager, Buyer, or similar commercial/procurement role
* Experience working with medical consumables, healthcare products, veterinary products, or a related sector
* Strong sourcing, negotiation, and supplier management skills
* Commercial awareness with the ability to analyse data and make informed procurement decisions
* Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
* CIPS qualification (or working towards) would be advantageous
Desirable
* Knowledge of the veterinary or animal health market
* Experience using category management, procurement, or ERP systems
Cultural Fit
We are looking for a proactive, commercially minded professional who thrives in a fast‑paced, growth‑oriented environment. You will combine strong analytical capability with excellent negotiation and relationship‑building skills, ensuring the business achieves both cost efficiency and commercial success.
If you are motivated by ownership, enjoy influencing strategic decisions, and want to make a tangible impact within a collaborative and ambitious organisation, this role is for you.
What We Offer
Our benefits are designed to support you both in and outside of work, including:
* Up to 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays), plus an additional day off for your birthday
* Enhanced family leave and sickness policies, plus a Life Assurance scheme
* Health support including 24/7 Private GP access, mental health support, Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing platforms, and “Tooth Fairy”
* Financial support including salary sacrifice schemes, employee discounts, and early salary drawdown access
* Staff recognition scheme and regular social events
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