Category Manager - Industrial Services and Travel & Expenses

Smiths Detection; Dacorum; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global technology firm is seeking a Category Manager to oversee indirect procurement categories. The role involves developing strategies to optimize cost and performance while managing supplier relationships. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in procurement, excellent stakeholder management skills, and a collaborative approach. This position offers career growth opportunities within an inclusive environment, focusing on safety and wellbeing. Join a team dedicated to making the world a safer place.

Benefits

Excellent training

Career growth opportunities

Flexible benefits

Qualifications

• Proven experience in indirect procurement and category management.
• Strong knowledge of sourcing processes and contract management.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies across services.
• Lead sourcing initiatives, supplier evaluations, and negotiations.
• Drive year-on-year cost savings and value creation.

Skills

Indirect procurement

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Job description

About the Role

As the Category Manager, you will act as the subject matter expert for a diverse and strategically critical set of indirect procurement categories, including facilities management, MRO, capex services, fleet, energy, and global travel and expense. You will be responsible for developing and delivering category strategies that optimise cost, quality, risk, and performance across multiple regions.

This role partners closely with senior stakeholders across the business, ensuring Smiths Detection maximises value from its supply base while driving sustainable sourcing, supplier innovation, and risk reduction.

This is a high-impact role with global reach, ideal for someone who thrives in a complex, fast-moving environment and is comfortable leading cross-functional teams without direct reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global and regional category strategies across Industrial Services and Travel & Expenses.
• Lead sourcing initiatives, including RFIs/RFPs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and contract management.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment between business needs and procurement strategy.
• Drive year-on-year cost savings, value creation, and supplier-led innovation.
• Manage key supplier relationships, ensuring strong performance, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Identify risks, market trends, and cost drivers to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Implement best-in-class procurement processes and support the global Indirect Procurement strategy.
• Support sustainability, compliance, and governance requirements across all sourcing activity.
• Leverage group-wide spend to standardise, rationalise, and unlock additional value.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience in indirect procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, or supplier management within Facilities Management, Maintenance, Repair, Operations, Energy, Fleet Management
• Strong knowledge of sourcing processes, contract management, and SRM methodologies.
• Experience working in a complex, global environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Strong commercial awareness, analytical skills, and a results-driven mindset.
• Experience with e-sourcing, spend analytics, and savings-tracking tools.
• A proactive, resilient, and collaborative approach with strong communication skills.
• Ability to think long-term and understand emerging supply market trends.

Additional Information

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)