Indirect Category Manager – Strategic Procurement (Hybrid)

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

Job summary

CrossCountry in Birmingham is seeking a Category Manager – Indirect to lead a small procurement team and own end-to-end procurement, including market engagement, tendering, contract awards and supplier relationships.

You will drive value, governance and compliant processes across the business, deliver regulated procurements under the Procurement Act 2023, and collaborate with stakeholders and Legal to protect CrossCountry’s commercial interests.

Qualifications

• Experience compiling robust tender and commercial documentation.
• Experience running tenders and leading complex procurement activities.
• Strong negotiation skills delivering successful commercial outcomes.
• Experience procuring direct and indirect goods—ideally IT, rail or transport.
• Advanced Excel and spend data analysis skills.
• CIPS membership or working towards it.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a small team reporting to Head of Procurement & Property.
• Implement and improve procurement processes for compliant operations.
• Shape procurement strategies delivering value for money and innovation.
• Build a forward-looking procurement pipeline to meet business needs.
• Manage major procurement projects—regulated and non-regulated—with tender docs and evaluation frameworks.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify best-fit solutions.
• Foster supplier relationships and SRM across the organisation.
• Work with Legal to ensure contractual terms protect commercial interests.
• Drive supplier performance and address non-conformances promptly.
• Support process improvements to strengthen resilience of the supply chain.
• Identify and track cost savings and added value.
• Benchmark supplier performance and negotiate changes for ongoing value.
• Present strategies and pricing insights to senior leadership.
• Utilise P2P systems and promote best practice.

Skills

Tender docs

Negotiation

Stakeholder mgmt

Supply markets

Excel proficiency

Tools

Purchase-to-Pay systems

Contract management software

Job description

CrossCountry in Birmingham is seeking a Category Manager – Indirect to lead a small procurement team and own end-to-end procurement, including market engagement, tendering, contract awards and supplier relationships.

You will drive value, governance and compliant processes across the business, deliver regulated procurements under the Procurement Act 2023, and collaborate with stakeholders and Legal to protect CrossCountry’s commercial interests.