Category Manager - Senior Buyer - Engineering and Construction

Eurocell Plc; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established organisation in Portsmouth seeks a Category Manager - Senior Buyer specializing in Engineering and Construction. This role involves overseeing procurement and supply chain activities, managing supplier relationships, and leading sourcing initiatives. The ideal candidate will have proven category management experience, strong negotiation and contract management skills, and the ability to analyze market trends. Competitive salary ranges from £55,000 to £66,000 with excellent benefits offered in a dynamic work environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive health cash plan

Opportunities for growth

Qualifications

• Proven experience in category management within procurement and supply chain.
• Strong knowledge of end‑to‑end procurement in the Engineering and Construction sector.
• Ability to analyse market trends and implement cost‑saving strategies.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and continual improvement of procurement best practices.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.
• Drive cost reduction through standardisation and aggregation of demand.

Skills

Category management expertise

Negotiation skills

Contract management

Market trend analysis

Interpersonal skills

Education

Qualifications in procurement, supply chain, or related field

Job description

Role Overview

The Category Manager - Senior Buyer - Engineering and Construction will oversee procurement and supply chain activities whilst ensuring cost‑effective and efficient processes. This role requires a professional with expertise in category management and supplier relationships within construction and engineering. This is an opportunity to join a well‑established organisation. The company operates as a medium‑sized business focused on delivering high‑quality services and maintaining sustainable practices. As a Category Manager - Senior Buyer you will help to develop and implement category strategies, manage demand planning, and lead sourcing initiatives across the E&C portfolio. You'll be responsible for delivering value creation, minimising total cost of ownership, and ensuring compliance with utilities procurement regulations and statutory requirements. You will lead on projects within construction and engineering and help to support the category as it grows and develops.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and continual improvement of procurement best practices across the end‑to‑end procurement’s.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and suppliers through proactive communication.
• Promote continuous improvement in procurement procedures and working practices.
• Manage Engineering & Construction category spend with significant strategic impact.
• Develop and implement demand and category strategies, engaging stakeholders to understand requirements.
• Lead commercial activities across the sourcing life cycle, delivering value creation and risk mitigation.
• Collaborate with business leads to deliver category‑specific strategies, including sourcing and contracting.
• Drive cost reduction through standardisation, aggregation of demand, and minimising tail spend.
• Translate external best practices and innovation into actionable proposals and category strategies.
• Ensure compliance with utilities procurement regulations, statutory obligations, and data protection requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience in category management within procurement and supply chain.
• Strong knowledge of end‑to‑end procurement and buying in the Engineering and Construction sector.
• Excellent negotiation and contract management skills.
• Ability to analyse market trends and implement cost‑saving strategies.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain supplier relationships.
• Knowledge of procurement policies and best practices.
• Relevant qualifications in procurement, supply chain, or a related field.
• You would have ideally worked in utilities, construction, regulated or public sector environment.
• Knowledge of regulated procurement procedures (UCR, PCR, PA23) would be desirable.

Compensation and Benefits

Competitive salary £55,000 up to £66,000 plus excellent benefits, including a comprehensive health cash plan and opportunities for growth in a dynamic environment.