Category Coordinator

Total Marketing Support Limited; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

TMS Global, part of DS Smith, is seeking a Category Coordinator to join its global procurement team, handling sourcing strategies, supplier initiatives and governance across multiple markets. This hybrid role requires collaboration with the Global Sourcing Lead and internal stakeholders to drive value and efficiency.

You will build relationships across teams, manage priorities, and contribute to strategic sourcing programmes that improve performance and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement, sourcing or supply chain environment.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills with data interpretation.
• MS Office skills, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience using ERP, procurement or supplier management systems is advantageous.
• Excellent organisational and project coordination abilities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive mindset and continuous improvement focus.

Responsibilities

• Support development, implementation and continuous improvement of procurement policies and processes.
• Deliver performance reporting, stakeholder engagement and analysis of procurement activities.
• Assist Global Sourcing Lead on strategic initiatives and group procurement activities.
• Coordinate sourcing activities and supplier management initiatives to meet objectives.
• Provide procurement and supplier support for new business opportunities and capacity assessments.
• Contribute to supplier development programmes improving quality, service and cost performance.
• Maintain project plans, monitor actions and risks, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Identify opportunities to improve procurement effectiveness and reporting across the function.

Skills

Procurement experience

Analytical skills

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

ERP systems

Organizational skills

Stakeholder management

Proactive mindset

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

This role is offered on a hybrid basis, with your office location based in either Manchester or Budapest.

TMS Global, part of DS Smith, is a global leader in sustainable packaging and retail solutions. Operating in 97 markets with more than 300 colleagues across APAC, LATAM, EMEA and North America, we partner with leading global brands to deliver innovative print, packaging and display solutions.

As a Category Coordinator, you will be at the heart of our global procurement function, helping to deliver sourcing strategies, supplier initiatives and continuous improvement projects that drive value for both our business and customers. Working closely with the Global Sourcing Lead and stakeholders across the business, you will help drive procurement best practice, monitor supplier and procurement performance, and contribute to the successful delivery of strategic sourcing programmes that create value and improve operational efficiency.

This is a varied and collaborative role that requires strong organisational and project management skills, attention to detail and a proactive approach. You will build relationships with internal teams, suppliers and external partners, providing support across sourcing activities, supplier development, commercial projects and governance initiatives. The role offers an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to strategic procurement activities while contributing to business growth and continuous improvement across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of procurement policies, processes and best practices, ensuring consistent adoption across the business.
• Deliver performance reporting, stakeholder engagement and analysis of procurement and supplier activities.
• Act as a key support to the Global Sourcing Lead on strategic commercial initiatives and group-wide procurement activities, ensuring projects are effectively coordinated, monitored and delivered.
• Coordinate sourcing activities and supplier management initiatives, supporting procurement objectives and business requirements.
• Provide procurement and supplier support for new business opportunities, including supplier identification, commercial analysis and capacity assessments.
• Contribute to supplier development programmes, driving improvements in quality, service, sustainability, innovation, resilience and cost performance.
• Coordinate procurement projects and initiatives, maintaining project plans, monitoring actions, risks and opportunities, and ensuring deadlines are achieved.
• Identify opportunities to improve procurement effectiveness, reporting capability, supplier performance and operational efficiency across the function.

About You

You'll be an organised and proactive professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced, international environment. With strong analytical skills and a keen eye for detail, you'll be confident building relationships across multiple functions, managing competing priorities and communicating effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will have experience in the following areas:

• Experience working within a procurement, sourcing or supply chain environment.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and PowerPoint, with the ability to create reports, analyse data and present insights effectively.
• Experience using ERP, procurement or supplier management systems would be advantageous.
• Excellent organisational and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.

“To achieve our aim of being among the most successful, sustainable and responsible companies in the world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.”