Brackley, EastMidlands NN13, United Kingdom
Full-time Permanent Associate
Buttress is a UK-wide group of specialist companies, delivering end-to-end services through a connected and collaborative approach. By combining expertise across our businesses, we provide smarter, more efficient and increasingly sustainable solutions across the commercial catering and service industries.
Category Manager
We are now seeking a strategic and commercially driven Category Manager to lead the development and execution of category strategies that deliver value, reduce risk, and support business objectives. In this role, you will manage supplier relationships, drive cost efficiencies, and ensure alignment with organisational goals.
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Planning
* Develop and implement category strategies aligned with business objectives
* Conduct market analysis, supplier benchmarking, and industry research
* Identify cost-saving opportunities and innovation within the category
* Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers
* Lead supplier negotiations to secure best value (cost, quality, service)
* Monitor supplier performance using KPIs and SLAs
* Deliver cost savings and value improvements across assigned categories
* Manage budgets and track category spend
* Support forecasting and demand planning activities
Stakeholder Engagement
* Collaborate with internal stakeholders (operations, finance, legal, etc.)
* Provide expert advice on procurement strategies and supplier selection
* Ensure alignment between procurement and business needs
* Identify and mitigate supply chain risks
* Ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements
* Support sustainability and ESG initiatives within the supply base
Contract Management
* Support end-to-end sourcing activities (RFPs, RFQs, tenders)
* Negotiate and manage contracts to ensure value and compliance
Key Skills and Experience
* Proven experience in category management, procurement, or supply chain
* Strong negotiation skills with sound commercial judgement
* Experience managing supplier relationships and contracts
* Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and drive insight
* Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders
What you'll bring
* Strategic thinking – able to take a long-term, value-driven approach
* Influencing and negotiation – confident in driving outcomes and challenging where needed
* Commercial awareness – understands financial impact and business priorities
* Problem-solving and decision-making – able to assess options and act decisively
* Relationship management – builds credibility and maintains strong partnerships
* CIPS qualification (or working towards)
* Experience within the warewashing or catering industry
* Knowledge of procurement systems (e.g. SAP, Coupa, Ariba)
What We Offer
* Pension scheme to support your future
* Access to a wide range of discounts through our Perks platform via Employment Hero
* The opportunity to represent three of the most respected brands in the industry
* A supportive, down-to-earth culture where people genuinely enjoy working together
* A social team – from informal get-togethers to our summer and Christmas parties
* Autonomy to manage your diary and approach
* The chance to be part of an exciting period of change, with a real focus on innovation — with new benefits, ways of working and development opportunities evolving as we grow.
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