Category Manager

Matchtech; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 112,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Defence and technology organisation in Farnborough is recruiting an experienced Category Manager (Engineering Services & Materials) on a 6-month contract. The role offers up to £700 p/day (Inside IR35 via Umbrella) and is 3 days onsite.

You will own a £100m spend across Engineering Services and Materials, shaping sourcing strategies, driving supplier performance and managing risk within a fast-paced programme environment.

Qualifications

• Active SC clearance is required.
• Experience in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing or Procurement.
• Experience managing engineering, manufacturing, technical or industrial categories.
• Strong contract negotiation and supplier management capability.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and business partnering skills.
• Commercially minded with the ability to balance cost, risk and operational requirements.
• Experience leading competitive tender processes and delivering measurable value.
• Defence, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Engineering or Industrial sectors.
• Experience with SAP Ariba, Oracle Fusion or other Source-to-Pay systems.
• Knowledge of supplier risk management and procurement governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies across Engineering Services and Materials.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including tender design, supplier selection and contract negotiation.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders to understand requirements and influence procurement decisions.
• Deliver commercial value through strategic sourcing, supplier consolidation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities across key strategic suppliers.
• Manage supplier and category risks, including supply chain resilience, sustainability and information security considerations.
• Monitor market trends and supplier capabilities to drive innovation and best practice.
• Support procurement transformation projects, including Source-to-Pay process improvements and systems development.

Skills

SC clearance

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

SAP Ariba

Oracle Fusion

Job description

A leading Defence and technology organisation are seeking an experienced Category Manager (Engineering Services & Materials) to join their growing Procurement & Supply Chain function.

Role: Category Manager
Duration: 6-month contract
Pay: Up to £700 p/day (Inside IR35 via Umbrella)
Location: Farnborough (3 days onsite)

An exciting opportunity for an SC cleared professional to take ownership of a diverse portfolio of Engineering Services and Materials spend, supporting critical programmes across a highly innovative and fast-paced business.

Working within a strategic category management team, you will help shape sourcing strategies, drive supplier performance, manage commercial risk and deliver tangible value across a spend area worth approximately £100m.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies across Engineering Services and Materials.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including tender design, supplier selection and contract negotiation.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders to understand requirements and influence procurement decisions.
• Deliver commercial value through strategic sourcing, supplier consolidation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities across key strategic suppliers.
• Manage supplier and category risks, including supply chain resilience, sustainability and information security considerations.
• Monitor market trends and supplier capabilities to drive innovation and best practice.
• Support procurement transformation projects, including Source-to-Pay process improvements and systems development. This role offers significant exposure to senior stakeholders, the opportunity to influence business planning and involvement in major transformation initiatives across procurement technology and processes.

Key Requirements

• Active SC clearance
• Proven experience in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing or Procurement.
• Experience managing engineering, manufacturing, technical or industrial categories.
• Strong contract negotiation and supplier management capability.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and business partnering skills.
• Commercially minded with the ability to balance cost, risk and operational requirements.
• Experience leading competitive tender processes and delivering measurable value.
• Defence, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Engineering or Industrial sectors.
• Experience with SAP Ariba, Oracle Fusion or other Source-to-Pay systems.
• Knowledge of supplier risk management and procurement governance frameworks.