Indirect Category Manager - Hybrid Procurement Lead

Arriva; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Arriva in Birmingham is seeking a Category Manager – Indirect to lead a small procurement team and own end-to-end indirect spend strategies across IT, facilities, and other services. This role blends strategic sourcing, tender development, and supplier relationship management in a hybrid working setup.

You will drive value for money, ensure governance under the Procurement Act 2023, and partner with legal and stakeholder teams to deliver compliant contracts and measurable cost savings.

Qualifications

• Proven experience compiling robust tender and commercial documentation.
• Experience running tenders and leading complex procurement activities.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of delivering successful commercial outcomes.
• Experience procuring direct and indirect goods and services—ideally within IT, rail or transport environments.
• Strong understanding of technical services supply markets.
• Excellent stakeholder relationship skills, with the ability to influence and support decision-making.
• Strong analytical and spend analysis skills, including advanced Excel capability.
• Membership of CIPS (or working towards it).

Responsibilities

• Lead a small procurement team and manage end-to-end indirect category activities.
• Develop and implement procurement processes and strategies to deliver value for money.
• Lead major procurement projects, producing tender documents, evaluation frameworks and reports.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify best-fit solutions and maintain supplier relationships.
• Drive supplier performance and manage risk and compliance.
• Utilise data insights to inform pricing and supplier decisions.

Skills

Tender management

Negotiation

Spend analysis

Excel advanced

Stakeholder management

Procurement strategy

Education

CIPS membership

Tools

Purchase-to-Pay systems

Job description

Arriva in Birmingham is seeking a Category Manager – Indirect to lead a small procurement team and own end-to-end indirect spend strategies across IT, facilities, and other services. This role blends strategic sourcing, tender development, and supplier relationship management in a hybrid working setup.

You will drive value for money, ensure governance under the Procurement Act 2023, and partner with legal and stakeholder teams to deliver compliant contracts and measurable cost savings.