Category Manager in Northampton)

Cast UK Limited; Northampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career development opportunities

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Cast UK Limited is partnering with a growing business in Northampton to recruit a Procurement Lead. You will own the buying function, shaping procurement strategy while staying close to day-to-day commercial activity.

This role offers autonomy to influence supplier strategy, deliver cost-saving initiatives and strengthen supplier partnerships across the business. A strategic thinker who excels at negotiation will thrive in this hands-on leadership role.

Qualifications

• Experience in Buying, Procurement, Category Management or Supply Chain.
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and contracts.
• Ability to analyse data to identify cost savings.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• CIPS qualification or working towards is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement purchasing strategies to support growth.
• Source, negotiate and manage supplier agreements to achieve best value.
• Build long-term supplier relationships and monitor performance.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, process improvement and value creation.
• Support forecasting and purchasing plans to ensure stock availability.
• Manage procurement projects from sourcing to contract implementation.
• Analyse spend, supplier performance and market trends to inform decisions.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to deliver procurement solutions.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks while ensuring policy compliance.

Skills

Buying/Procurement

Category Management

Supply Chain

Negotiation

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

CIPS qualification

Education

CIPS qualification (or working towards)

Job description

Procurement Lead

Northampton

£40,000 - £50,000 per annum

Are you an experienced Procurement Lead looking for an opportunity where you can make a genuine impact?

We're recruiting on behalf of a growing business that is investing in its future and is looking for an ambitious procurement professional to take ownership of its buying function. This is a fantastic opportunity to join during an exciting period of growth, playing a key role in shaping procurement strategy whilst remaining close to the day-to-day commercial activities that keep the business moving.

This is far more than a transactional buying role. You'll have the autonomy to influence supplier strategy, deliver cost‑saving initiatives, strengthen supplier partnerships and work closely with stakeholders across the business to ensure procurement supports wider commercial objectives.

The Role

As Procurement Lead, you'll lead both the strategic and operational procurement activities across a diverse product portfolio. You'll be responsible for developing supplier relationships, negotiating commercial agreements, identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, whilst ensuring the business has the right products, at the right price, at the right time.

You’ll work collaboratively with departments across the business, becoming a trusted commercial partner and helping drive continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement purchasing strategies that support business growth.
• Source, negotiate and manage supplier agreements to achieve the best value across cost, quality and service.
• Build long-term relationships with key suppliers and monitor performance.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, process improvement and value creation.
• Support forecasting and purchasing plans to ensure stock availability.
• Manage procurement projects from sourcing through to contract implementation.
• Analyse spend, supplier performance and market trends to support informed decision making.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand business requirements and deliver effective procurement solutions.
• Help identify and mitigate supply chain risks whilst ensuring compliance with company policies.

About You

We're looking for someone who enjoys balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on buying responsibilities. You'll be commercially minded, an excellent negotiator and someone who enjoys building lasting relationships both internally and externally.

You’ll ideally have:

• Previous experience within Buying, Procurement, Category Management or Supply Chain.
• Strong commercial awareness with excellent negotiation skills.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and contracts.
• The ability to analyse data and identify opportunities for cost savings and operational improvements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• CIPS qualification (or working towards) would be advantageous but isn't essential.

What’s on Offer?

• A genuine opportunity to shape and develop the procurement function.
• Join a business during an exciting period of growth and investment.
• A varied role combining strategic procurement with operational buying responsibilities.
• Collaborative working environment with opportunities to influence key business decisions.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Career development opportunities as the business continues to grow.

If you’re looking for a role where your ideas will be heard, your commercial expertise will make a difference and you’ll have the opportunity to lead procurement rather than simply process orders, we’d love to hear from you.