Indirect Category Manager

W Talent; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

W Talent in Derbyshire is seeking an experienced Indirect Category Manager to own a diverse indirect spend portfolio across a multi-site operation. You will develop sourcing strategies, lead tender processes and drive cost savings while ensuring operational continuity.

Working closely with Operations, Engineering and Finance, you will manage supplier relationships, contracts and performance, deliver reporting to senior leadership and mentor one direct report.

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 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Sourcing

Tendering

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Cost savings

Supplier management

ERP

Advanced Excel

Education

MCIPS

Tools

ERP systems

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.

If you're an ambitious procurement professional looking to take the next step in your career—or your background is stronger in Supplier Relationship Management—we would be delighted to discuss these opportunities with you.