Category Manager

An excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement and purchasing professional to join an award-winning, global packaging manufacturer with production facilities across Europe and South East Asia, managing a diverse category and product range while working with existing suppliers and sourcing new suppliers on a global basis.

If you've also worked in the following roles, we'd also like to hear from you: Procurement Manager, Purchasing Manager, Category Buyer, Senior Buyer, Sourcing Manager, Procurement Specialist, Commercial Buyer, Buyer, Supplier Relationship Manager, Category Lead

LOCATION: Birmingham, West Midlands

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent

JOB OVERVIEW

This is an exciting opportunity for a Category Manager to join an award-winning, global packaging manufacturer with production facilities across Europe and South East Asia, supplying food packaging products to major customers including McDonalds, Amazon, Marks & Spencer and Greggs.

As the Category Manager, you will join a dynamic purchasing team and autonomously manage a diverse category and product range, working with existing suppliers and sourcing new suppliers on a global basis to support the needs of the organisation and its customers.

The Category Manager will report to the Head of Purchasing and be supported by a team of Category Assistants, helping to develop and drive category strategy, grow sales and improve profitability across the organisation.

DUTIES

Your duties as the Category Manager include:

• Category Strategy: Create and execute category strategy to grow the category in terms of both sales and profitability
• Category Planning: Develop category plans in line with the wider purchasing and commercial strategy
• Supplier Tenders: Develop an annual calendar of supplier tenders and support best cost first time initiatives
• Supplier Management: Manage the supplier base to ensure the organisation is working with appropriate suppliers to deliver its objectives
• Global Sourcing: Work with existing suppliers and source new suppliers on a global basis to support the needs of the organisation and its customers
• Commercial Insight: Understand the processes and costs involved with manufacturing, raw materials, distribution and end use
• Innovation: Work with internal departments to develop new ideas and help future proof the business
• Product Lifecycle: Manage category and product lifecycle activity across the product range
• Stakeholder Support: Provide category and product expertise internally and to customers
• Issue Escalation: Act as the final point of escalation for internal stakeholder issues within the purchasing department

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS ESSENTIAL

• Experience managing a category within a purchasing function
• Results-focused approach with a successful track record in cost reduction activities
• Experienced negotiator with strong commercial awareness
• Demonstrated experience driving category strategy with clear achievements in profitability, reduced spend or increased margins
• Able to work autonomously and as part of a team

DESIRABLE

• Experience in retail, packaging or FMCG would be a distinct advantage