Category Buyer

sulzer; Leeds; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Company-wide bonus scheme

Health Cash Plan

33 days holiday

Defined pension contribution

Learning pathways

EV charging parking

Onsite gym

Job summary

Sulzer in Leeds is seeking an experienced procurement professional to manage end-to-end sourcing for fabrication and welded assembly. You will build strong supplier relationships, evaluate capabilities, negotiate contracts, and support project teams with procurement planning and schedules.

Working in a manufacturing and engineering environment, you will monitor supplier performance, drive continuous improvement, manage risk, and ensure prudent, ethical sourcing in line with company policies.

Qualifications

• Experience in purchasing, procurement or category management within manufacturing/engineering.
• Experience sourcing fabricated, welded or machined components.
• Strong commercial awareness with proven negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project-driven environment.
• Experience working with suppliers locally and internationally.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication abilities.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems and MS Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end procurement process for fabrication and welded assembly.
• 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.

Skills

Purchasing experience

Category management

Sourcing welded components

Negotiation skills

Project management

Supplier relationship mgmt

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder communication

ERP/MRP systems

MS Office

Education

CIPS qualification or progress towards CIPS accreditation

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.

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 contributionEmployee 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.