Category Manager

SF Partners; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SF Partners is seeking a Category Manager to drive procurement and supply chain strategy across a growing, multi-division business. The role focuses on delivering value, ensuring supply continuity, and building strong supplier partnerships and robust procurement processes.

You will own sourcing and supplier strategy across the group to improve efficiency, visibility, and long-term sustainability.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement, sourcing, or category management.
• Strong supplier negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Commercially astute with an understanding of cost, margin and TCO.
• Data-driven with analytical capability (advanced Excel preferred).
• Experience with ERP systems and procurement tools.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a group-wide sourcing strategy to drive cost savings and performance.
• Build and manage strong supplier relationships, ensuring reliability, quality, and service levels.
• Lead contract negotiations and manage supplier performance.
• Rationalise and optimise the supplier base while maintaining supply continuity.
• Ensure procurement activities are compliant with regulatory and quality standards.
• Manage risk across the supply chain, including shortages and regulatory changes.
• Support business growth through procurement transformation, digitalisation, and improved processes.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, finance, sales, and technology teams.

Skills

Procurement

Sourcing

Category management

Negotiation

Data analysis

ERP systems

Job description

Category Manager

Nottingham (Hybrid - minimum 2 days in the office)

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Commodity Manager / Procurement Lead to drive procurement and supply chain strategy across a growing, multi-division business. This is a key role focused on delivering value, ensuring supply continuity, and supporting business growth through strong supplier partnerships and robust procurement processes.

You will take ownership of sourcing and supplier strategy across the group, helping to improve efficiency, visibility, and long-term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a group-wide sourcing strategy to drive cost savings and performance
• Build and manage strong supplier relationships, ensuring reliability, quality, and service levels
• Lead contract negotiations and manage supplier performance
• Rationalise and optimise the supplier base while maintaining supply continuity
• Ensure procurement activities are compliant with regulatory and quality standards
• Manage risk across the supply chain, including shortages and regulatory changes
• Support business growth through procurement transformation, digitalisation, and improved processes
• Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, finance, sales, and technology teams

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in procurement, sourcing, or category management
• Strong supplier negotiation and relationship management skills
• Commercially astute with a solid understanding of cost, margin, and total cost of ownership
• Data-driven with strong analytical capability (advanced Excel skills preferred)
• Experience working with ERP systems and procurement tools
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills

The client is looking for someone who is results driven with a proactive and strategic mindset who is comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment. You will need to be collaborative, adaptable, and focused on continuous improvement.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in shaping procurement strategy within a growing organisation, with real scope to drive impact and add value.