Category Buyer

Innovus; Luton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Career development

Job summary

Innovus is seeking a Category Buyer to develop, improve and implement category strategies that deliver value for money and high-quality solutions for the UK property sector. You will manage supplier relationships, support the Procurement Manager, and help drive cost reductions while ensuring compliant and ethical procurement practices.

The role sits in the Procurement team within the Business Services division, reporting to the Procurement Manager with no direct reports.

Qualifications

• Experience in category management and can develop category strategy, manage sourcing events, negotiations, contract management, deployment and supplier relationship management.
• Experience coordinating communications across multiple business functions/stakeholders.
• Experience working in a changing, fast-paced environment with demanding objectives.
• 1-3 years procurement / procurement operations / category experience.

Responsibilities

• Supports Procurement Manager, acting as a Procurement & Supply Chain advisor and subject matter expert on each category.
• Develops stakeholder maps and understands business needs to align category strategies.
• Develops and implements category strategies/plans and mobilises framework suppliers.
• Develops business requirements analysis and value-for-money targets.
• Collaborates with Legal, Technical, Health & Safety, and Operations to contract critical suppliers with SLAs/KPIs.
• Manages supplier contracts and conducts performance reviews with preferred suppliers.
• Engages stakeholders and suppliers to address issues and improve procurement practices.
• Maintains stakeholder and communication plans for category teams.
• Ensures procurement activity complies with policies and CSR practices.

Skills

Procurement experience

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Education

CIPS membership

MCIPS studies

Tools

Excel

Job description

Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

At Innovus we are committed to delivering market leading solutions and professional services and as a Category Buyer, you will be contributing to our vision to be recognised as the market leading provider of services to the UK’s property sector.

We are proud to employ highly skilled, experienced, and innovative people who deliver business expertise and service across the property industry.

Main Purpose of Job

The Purpose of the job role is to develop, improve and implement category strategies which demonstrate value for money and a high-quality solution. Through doing this you will be able to provide peace of mind to our clients that the supply chain is managed effectively, through suppliers that are able to meet the clients needs.

Position in Organisation

The Category Buyer role sites within the Procurement team in the Business Services division. The role will report into the Procurement Manager and there will be no direct reports.

Main Responsibilities

• Supports Procurement Manager, acting as a Procurement & Supply Chain advisor and subject matter expert on each category.
• Develops relationships with stakeholders to understand the needs of the business and maintains appropriate stakeholder maps.
• Supports Procurement Manager in developing and implementing agreed category strategies/plans, mobilising the successful framework suppliers, and demobilising non-framework suppliers in agreement with Operations in line with the business needs and objectives.
• Develops and documents implementation plans that include comprehensive business requirements analysis and quantified value for money, cost reduction/improvement targets.
• Working with Legal, Technical, Health & Safety, and Operations key stakeholders and the Category Manager, develops and implements rigorous contracts for all critical, strategic and preferred suppliers within the category, incorporating service level and continuous improvement targets including SLAs/KPIs.
• Conducts supplier segmentation and develops, maintains preferred supplier listing with an approved product/service list for their category and effectively communicates this to the business.
• Manages supplier contracts and conducts regular performance management with preferred suppliers. Proactively identifies monitors and resolves strategic / critical and preferred supplier issues for category.
• Regularly engages stakeholders and suppliers to understand their issues or concerns; feedback to Category Managers and Procurement Operations; and seeks to improve procurement practice(s). Supports internal stakeholders by providing subject matter expertise, guidance and information on categories.
• Develops and maintains stakeholder and communication plans on behalf of the category teams.
• Conducts procurement activity in accordance with company procedures, Health & Safety, compliance, regulatory, stated ethics and CSR policies, etc.

Key Interfaces

• Internal departments and key executives
• External businesses and organisations, in particular key suppliers and clients
• Key influencers (internal and external)

Qualifications

• Member/Associate Member of Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).
• Studying towards MCIPS and/or Graduate.

Experience

• Has experience of category management and can develop category strategy, manage sourcing events, negotiations, contract management, deployment and supplier relationship management.
• Has experience of managing/supporting communications across multiple business functions/stakeholders.
• Has experience working within a changing and fast paced environment with demanding business objectives.
• 1-3 years procurement / procurement operations / category experience.
• Has supply market knowledge and experience of spend category.
• Demonstrates track record in supplier selection, negotiation and contract management delivering value for money, cost and/or revenue targets.
• Demonstrates track record of developing and maintaining stakeholder and supplier relationships.
• Has experience of organising/managing data and producing performance analysis.

Technical Skills

• Ability to chair meetings.
• Excel

Working at Innovus:

At Innovus, we recognise that people come to work to do a great job, and we actively support this through our internal employee reward platform and a culture that celebrates contribution.

We’re passionate about helping our people grow and progress, and we encourage ongoing personal and professional development. We also understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance, offering flexibility where possible depending on role requirements.

Everything we do is guided by our core values: Trust, Respect, Integrity, Innovation, and Delivery.

What We Offer:

At Innovus, we believe our people deserve the best, just like our customers. That’s why we provide the tools, training, and support you need to thrive, alongside a competitive salary and a great range of benefits.

We're committed to creating a supportive, inclusive workplace where everyone can succeed.

Diversity and Inclusion:

At Innovus, we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and recruit based on merit. We welcome applications from everyone, including those interested in job share opportunities.

As an inclusive employer, we provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates. If you have any accessibility requirements or need adjustments at any stage of the recruitment and selection process, please contact our team, we are happy to support you.