Indirect Category Manager

more-jobs; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Professional development support

Career progression opportunities

MCIPS development support

Job summary

more-jobs is seeking an Indirect Category Manager for a Derbyshire-based manufacturing client. You will own a diverse indirect spend across MRO, tooling, IT and facilities, shaping sourcing strategies and leading tender processes to achieve measurable cost savings.

You will partner with Operations, Engineering and Finance, manage one direct report and drive supplier performance in a multi-site environment. MCIPS or active study is encouraged for advancement.

Qualifications

• Experience managing indirect procurement categories.
• Strong sourcing, tendering and contract negotiation skills.
• Experience delivering cost savings and supplier performance improvements.
• Manufacturing, engineering or industrial sector experience.
• MCIPS qualification or actively working towards it.
• Experience using ERP systems and advanced Excel.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proactive, self-motivated with ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing projects and category reviews through RFP processes.
• Manage supplier performance, contracts and SLAs.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction and working capital improvements.
• Take ownership of supplier relationships and contract negotiations.
• Support procurement initiatives and report progress to leadership.
• Manage one direct report and develop their capabilities.
• Analyse procurement data to inform business decisions.

Skills

Indirect procurement

Sourcing & tendering

Contract negotiation

Cost savings

Supplier performance

Manufacturing/engineering experience

Stakeholder influence

Multiple priorities

Education

MCIPS qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Advanced Excel

Job description

Indirect Category Manager - Manufacturing

Derbyshire | £Competitive + Excellent Benefits

A leading UK manufacturing business is seeking an Indirect Category Manager to take ownership of a diverse indirect spend portfolio across a complex, multi-site operation. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially focused procurement professional looking to broaden their category management experience, influence senior stakeholders and develop their career within a business that actively invests in its people.

Please note: We are also considering Supplier Relationship Managers. If your experience is more aligned to strategic supplier management than category management, we'd still like to hear from you.

The Role

Reporting to the Procurement Manager, you will be responsible for managing approximately £5 million of indirect spend across a broad range of categories including MRO, engineering consumables, tooling, fleet, leasing, facilities management, soft services, oils, IT and capital expenditure.

Working closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Finance and senior leadership teams, you will develop sourcing strategies, lead competitive tender processes, negotiate commercial agreements and drive measurable cost savings while ensuring operational continuity.

You'll also:

• Lead sourcing projects and category reviews through structured RFP processes.
• Manage supplier performance, contracts and service level agreements.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, cost avoidance and working capital improvements.
• Take ownership of key supplier relationships and contract negotiations.
• Support group-wide procurement initiatives and present progress to senior leadership.
• Manage one direct report and support their ongoing development.
• Analyse procurement data and produce meaningful reporting to support business decisions.

The Successful Applicant

You will be an experienced indirect procurement professional with a proven ability to influence stakeholders and deliver commercial value within a manufacturing or engineering environment.

You will ideally have:

• Experience managing indirect procurement categories.
• Strong sourcing, tendering and contract negotiation skills.
• Experience delivering cost savings and supplier performance improvements.
• Manufacturing, engineering or industrial sector experience.
• MCIPS qualification or be actively working towards it.
• Experience using ERP systems and advanced Excel.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, self-motivated approach with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

What's on Offer

This role offers genuine autonomy, allowing you to take ownership of your categories while working alongside experienced procurement professionals in a collaborative environment.

Benefits include:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Investment in professional development, including support towards MCIPS.
• Exposure to strategic sourcing and capital investment projects.
• Clear opportunities for career progression within a growing manufacturing group.
• The chance to influence procurement strategy across a high-profile industrial business.