Category Manager

HILTI GREAT BRITAIN LTD; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction innovation company in Manchester is seeking an experienced Category Manager responsible for managing indirect procurement activities. You will develop sourcing strategies for HR, Marketing, and IT sectors while ensuring supplier performance and cost efficiency. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's degree, procurement experience, and strong negotiation skills. The role offers hybrid working options and a comprehensive benefits package including career advancement and health insurance.

Benefits

Career advancement opportunities

6% employer pension contributions

Private Health Insurance

33 days holiday

Flexibility in working hours

Employee resource groups for various topics

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in any field.
• Previous procurement experience, ideally with indirect categories and services.
• Strong negotiation and supplier performance management skills.
• Ability to develop category strategies that drive value.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing strategies for indirect categories.
• Deliver value through cost savings, innovation, and risk mitigation.
• Manage end-to-end sourcing processes including RFPs.
• Maintain supplier relationships and performance.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Contract management

Supplier performance management

Problem-solving skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Detail-oriented

Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SAP

Coupa

Job description

Why Hilti

Hilti is a global leader in construction innovation, with more than 34,000 team members across 120 countries. Guided by our purpose, Making Construction Better, we’re driven to keep learning, growing, and finding new ways to make a lasting impact. Here, you’ll be empowered to use your strengths, work with a global and inclusive team, and take on meaningful challenges. At Hilti, you’ll have the chance to make your ideas, achievements, and growth real through purpose, passion, and teamwork.

The Role

As Category Manager, you will be responsible for managing all indirect procurement activities, with a specific focus on Marketing, HR Services, IT, Consulting, and Operating Supplies categories. You will play a pivotal role in driving cost efficiencies, ensuring supplier performance, and delivering best-in‑class service to internal stakeholders. In addition, you will be leading projects and fostering a high‑performing, collaborative environment.

What You’ll do

• Lead sourcing strategies for indirect categories (e.g., HR, Marketing, IT)
• Deliver value through cost savings, innovation, and risk mitigation
• Manage end‑to‑end sourcing (RFPs, supplier selection, negotiation)
• Maintain and improve supplier relationships and performance
• Track spend and identify cost optimisation opportunities
• Monitor procurement KPIs and drive continuous improvement
• Partner with internal stakeholders to align procurement with business needs
• Support regional / global procurement initiatives in local markets
• Ensure compliance and support process / digital improvements

In addition to the above, you'll act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders, ensuring procurement initiatives align with business needs, collaborating with internal departments.

You’ll proactively inform management and the wider organisation of their spend, influencing and promoting strategic sourcing and optimising spend, giving stakeholders appropriate assistance to ensure that suppliers are effective in their daily operational procurement services.

You’ll also be responsible for reviewing and ensuring compliance, continuously seeing operational improvements and efficiencies, including the development and implementation of digital sourcing models to streamline process.

Collaborating closely with the Procurement Operations team, you’ll ensure seamless execution, alignment, and continuous improvement of sourcing strategies.

You’ll also have the opportunity to engage with Global or Regional teams & effectively implement projects in designated markets.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in any field
• Previous procurement experience, ideally with indirect categories and services
• Strong negotiation, contract management and supplier performance management skills
• Ability to develop and implement category strategies that drive value creation for the organization
• Proficiency in procurement tools (e.g., SAP, Coupa) and Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) is essential
• Detail‑oriented problem‑solving skills
• Communication skills with a proven ability to explain complex topics clearly to a wide variety of audiences
• Proven interpersonal skills to work effectively and collaboratively within a team, cross‑functionally, and with various stakeholder groups
• Desire for an international career with international mobility

What’s In it for You

We really value our people and we’ve worked hard to develop a reward package that reflects this. Some of our benefits include :

• Genuine career advancement (more than 80% of all leadership roles are filled internally)
• 6% employer pension contributions
• Private Health Insurance and Employee Assistance Programme
• 33 days’ holiday (inc. Bank Holidays) plus the ability to purchase 5 days more annually
• Paid leave to work on charitable projects
• Hilti Benefits Box, a reward platform offering a cycle to work scheme and shopping and lifestyle discounts / cashback
• Different ways to work flexibly, including working from home and compressed hours
• Employee resource groups focused on gender, mental health, race, disability, LGBTQ+ and sustainability topics
• Trips to locations such as Milan, New York and global HQ for high performers across all teams
• Our Regional Head Office is based at Circle Square in Central Manchester, where we are located a short walk from Oxford Rd train station and St Peter’s Square tram stop. We offer a hybrid working pattern between the office and home and different ways to work flexibly so please feel free to talk about what flexibility means to you at your interview.