Category Buyer

E262 Sulzer Pumps (UK) Ltd.; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Medicash Health Cash Plan

33 days holiday

Defined pension contribution

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounts on shopping & lifestyle

CostCo membership option

Car leasing discounts

Long Service Awards

Learning Pathways

Support for veterans

Job summary

Sulzer Pumps (UK) Ltd. in Leeds seeks a Category Buyer - Fabrications to strengthen our Procurement team and ensure delivery of critical customer projects. You will manage fabrication procurements, build supplier relationships, and optimise value through negotiations and strategic planning.

Based at our Leeds site, you’ll work with local and international suppliers, use ERP/MRP systems, and collaborate with Engineering and Quality to meet project timelines and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Experience purchasing in manufacturing/engineering environments.
• Sourcing fabricated, welded or machined components.
• Strong commercial awareness with negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced projects.
• Experience with local and international suppliers.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication.
• Experience with ERP/MRP and MS Office.
• Desirable CIPS qualification or progress towards CIPS.
• Experience in heavy engineering sectors.
• Understanding of technical drawings and manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end procurement for fabrication and welded assemblies.
• Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers.
• Source and evaluate suppliers on capability, quality, delivery, and price.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts and framework agreements.
• Support project teams with procurement planning for orders and schedules.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive improvements.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks for continuity.
• Collaborate with Quality and Engineering to resolve issues.
• Analyse spend data and market conditions for strategy.

Skills

Procurement experience

Supplier management

Negotiation

ERP/MRP

MS Office

CIPS (desirable)

Fabrication knowledge

Stakeholder management

Education

Engineering/manufacturing background

Tools

ERP/MRP software

Job description

Sulzer is a leading engineering company with a proud heritage of innovation.

About the role

At Sulzer, innovation and excellence are at the heart of everything we do. Our Leeds site is an Advanced Pump Design and Manufacturing Facility and a recognised centre of excellence within our global network. From this facility, we engineer and manufacture some of the largest and most complex pump packages in the world, supporting critical infrastructure projects across the energy, water, industrial and renewable sectors worldwide. Due to recently secured major orders and continued business growth, we are seeking a Category Buyer - Fabrications to strengthen our Procurement team and ensure the successful delivery of critical customer projects.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Manage the end-to-end procurement process for fabrication and welded assembly requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and new suppliers.
• Source and evaluate suppliers based on capability, quality, delivery performance and commercial competitiveness.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts and framework agreements to achieve best value.
• Support project teams with procurement planning for customer orders and manufacturing schedules.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks to ensure continuity of supply.
• Collaborate with Quality and Engineering teams to resolve supplier-related issues.
• Analyse spend data and market conditions to support category strategy development.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procurement procedures and ethical sourcing standards.

What We’re Looking For

• Previous purchasing, procurement or category management experience within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Experience sourcing fabricated, welded or machined components would be highly advantageous.
• Strong commercial awareness with proven negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project-driven environment.
• Experience working with suppliers both locally and internationally.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication abilities.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Desirable CIPS qualification or progress towards CIPS accreditation.
• Experience within heavy engineering, rotating equipment, pumps, fabrication, oil & gas, power generation, water, mining or related industries.
• Understanding of technical engineering drawings and manufacturing processes.

What we offer you

We’ve recently invested significantly in modernising our Leeds facility — creating a brighter, more efficient, and more advanced workspace designed to support high‑quality work and a great employee experience.

Alongside our upgraded facilities, you’ll benefit from:

Core Benefits

• A competitive salary
• A company-wide bonus scheme
• Medicash Health Cash Plan (covering everyday healthcare expenses such as dental, optical and GP services)
• 33 days’ holiday
• Defined pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Programmes
• Discounts on shopping, entertainment & lifestyle
• Costco membership option
• Discounted personal car leasing for you, family & friends
• Long Service Awards
• Ongoing learning through Sulzer Learning Pathways
• Armed Forces Support – As a Silver Award holder of the MoD Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, we actively support veterans, reservists and Cadet Adult Volunteers. This includes policies that enable time for training, camps and deployment, alongside access to a growing internal military network.

Onsite Perks

Free, secure parking with EV charging Multi-faith prayer room Newly modernised work areas Lively Sports & Social Club with events & prize draws 24/7 onsite gym Subsidised vending machines Subsidised Canteen offering hot and cold food

Working Pattern

This role is primarily site-based in Leeds, reflecting its close connection to our operations and team collaboration. However, we take a positive and flexible approach to ways of working, recognising the importance of balance and autonomy, so ad-hoc home working can be supported where appropriate. Alongside this, we offer a 37-hour working week with a flexi-time policy, giving you the ability to bank hours and take them back as service leave, helping you manage your time in a way that works best for you.

Sulzer is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in the strength of a diverse workforce and are committed to offering an inclusive work environment. We are proud to be recognized as a Top Employer 2026 in Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland, South Africa, the UK and the USA.

Sulzer is a leading engineering company with a proud heritage of innovation. By supporting water and energy security, enabling the energy transition and driving the use of circular technologies, we help our customers build a better world. With more than 13’000 employees and 160 world‑class production facilities and service centres across the globe, we are a globally diverse team. We value the uniqueness of all our colleagues, and we appreciate the contributions that each of us makes to the company’s success. We prioritize your health and safety and are committed to offering a work environment in which you can thrive.