Category Manager

Ford & Stanley Recruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Category Manager in Manchester to oversee supplier relationships in a global railway company. The role involves managing categories, aligning strategies with a procurement team in Spain, and ensuring timely delivery of parts. Candidates must have strong negotiation skills and a CIPS certification. The offered salary is £49,000 plus benefits.

Benefits

Wider company benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in an engineering-related industry is highly desirable.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and work cross-functionally.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned categories like structure, rubber components, and communication equipment.
• Align category strategies with central procurement team in Spain.
• Maintain reporting on category spend and supplier KPIs.

Skills

Strong negotiation skills

Contract management

Supplier relationship management

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Education

CIPS certification (Level 5 preferred)

Job description

Overview

Category Manager | Manchester | £49,000

The Situation

Ford and Stanley are currently collaborating with a global company specialising in railway systems. The focus of the company is supplying and maintaining trains, providing technical support, commissioning and testing and operating a manufacturing facility.

The Opportunity

• Manage assigned categories (e.g., structure, rubber components, rubber-metal, gearbox, electrical repairs, dumpers, couplers, communication and information equipment).
• Align category strategies with the central procurement team in Spain.
• Lead supplier relationship management, including quarterly business reviews, service level agreements, and performance monitoring.
• Participate in supplier audits and ensure compliance.
• Collaborate closely with demand planning and project teams to ensure timely delivery of parts and services.
• Maintain up-to-date reporting on category spend and supplier KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Compress supplier lead times and ensure reliable, timely delivery of parts.
• Achieve alignment of UK category strategies with the central procurement team in Spain.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date reporting on category spend and supplier KPIs.

Essential Criteria

• CIPS certification (Level 5 preferred) or equivalent.
• Strong negotiation, contract management, and supplier relationship management experience.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, and communication skills.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and work cross-functionally.
• Experience in an engineering-related industry is highly desirable.

Salary

£49,000 plus wider company benefits

About Ford & Stanley Group

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership, and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas - recruiting, developing, and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom.

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Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall adhere to such a policy at all times and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy