Category Manager

People Group; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

People Group is seeking a proactive Category Manager to join a leading construction client in a hybrid role based in Central London. You will manage procurement categories, nurture supplier and trade contractor relationships, and drive performance and value for the wider business.

As a Manager level position, you will shape category strategies, monitor KPIs, and coordinate across business units and project teams to deliver commercial opportunities while supporting sustainability and net-zero

Qualifications

• Proactive and commercially minded with strong relationship-building and influencing skills.
• Construction experience is preferred but not essential; capability to learn on the job.

Responsibilities

• Manage allocated procurement categories and supplier relationships.
• Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor supplier performance against KPIs and identify improvement areas.
• Develop and implement category and procurement strategies.
• Identify opportunities to improve commercial value and supply chain performance.
• Support supplier negotiations and resolve issues.
• Provide market and supplier insights for business decisions.
• Coordinate workstreams to meet objectives and timescales.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to drive outcomes.
• Support sustainability and net-zero objectives across procurement.

Skills

Relationship management

Commercial acumen

Negotiation

Category management

Supplier management

Communication

Influencing

Multitasking

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Category Manager

Location: Central London

Working Arrangement: Hybrid (3-4 days per week in the office)

Level: Manager

The Opportunity

We are recruiting on behalf of a leading construction client for a Procurement & Supply Chain Manager to join an established head-office team.

This is a commercially focused, relationship-led role responsible for managing procurement categories, supplier and trade contractor relationships, performance and value creation across the wider business.

The role does not involve the direct procurement of individual project work packages. Instead, you will work across business units and project teams to improve supplier performance, develop category strategies, manage market intelligence and identify commercial opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage allocated procurement categories and supply chain relationships.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, trade contractors and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor supplier performance against agreed KPIs and identify areas for improvement.
• Develop and implement category and procurement strategies.
• Identify opportunities to improve commercial value, processes and supply chain performance.
• Support supplier negotiations and resolve commercial or performance-related issues.
• Provide market and supplier insight to support business decisions.
• Coordinate workstreams and initiatives, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives and timescales.
• Work closely with senior stakeholders to influence and drive positive outcomes.
• Support wider sustainability and net-zero objectives across procurement and supply chain activities.

About You

We are looking for a proactive and commercially minded individual with excellent relationship-building, communication and influencing skills.

Construction experience is preferred but not essential, as technical knowledge can be developed

within the role.

You will need to be comfortable engaging directly with people at all levels, building relationships and influencing stakeholders. This role would suit someone who enjoys a people-focused, commercially driven environment rather than purely transactional or desk-based procurement.

Key Skills

• Strong stakeholder and relationship-management skills
• Commercial acumen
• Negotiation and influencing ability
• Supplier and category management experience
• Strong communication skills
• Proactive and solutions-focused approach
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver against KPIs
• Microsoft Office proficiency
• CIPS qualification underway is desirable

This is a manager level position but candidates currently operating at Assistant Manager level with the right skills and potential will also be considered.