Category Manager Industrial Services and Travel & Expenses

Smiths Group; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global technology leader in Hemel Hempstead is looking for a Category Manager for Industrial Services and Travel & Expenses. This full-time position focuses on strategic sourcing and vendor management, ensuring optimal cost, quality, and performance across multiple regions. Ideal candidates will bring proven experience in procurement, excellent stakeholder management skills, and a results-driven approach. Join a team dedicated to making the world a safer place while driving innovation and supplier engagement in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Career growth opportunities

Inclusive work environment

Comprehensive training

Qualifications

• Proven experience in indirect procurement category management, strategic sourcing or supplier management.
• Strong knowledge of sourcing processes and contract management.
• Experience working in a complex global environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global and regional category strategies.
• Lead sourcing initiatives including RFIs/RFPs and contract management.
• Drive year-on-year cost savings and supplier-led innovation.

Skills

Procurement

Category Management

Indirect Procurement

Sourcing

Supplier Relationship Management

Job description

Overview

Category Manager Industrial Services and Travel & Expenses (mwd) Smiths Group• Hemel Hempstead, England, UK

Smiths Detection is a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies helping protect people and infrastructure around the world. We’re now looking for a talented Category Manager for Industrial Services & Travel & Expenses to join our growing Indirect Procurement team and drive strategic value across our global operations.

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.

Qualifications

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 for jobs directly through our careers website (Careers - Smiths Group plc).

Remote Work : No

Employment Type : Full-time

Key Skills

Procurement, Category Management, Indirect Procurement, Sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management