Indirect Procurement Lead – Strategy, Savings & Delivery

Arriva Group; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

CrossCountry is seeking a Category Manager – Indirect in Birmingham, offering a hybrid working model. You will lead a small team and own end-to-end procurement, from market engagement to contract award, ensuring value, governance and compliant operations.

You'll shape strategies for IT, indirect goods and services, drive supplier performance, and collaborate with stakeholders to deliver cost savings and robust tender documentation.

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 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a small team while reporting directly into the Head of Procurement & Property.
• Implement and continuously improve procurement processes to ensure smooth, compliant operations across the business.
• Shape procurement strategies that deliver value for money, including opportunities such as supplier consolidation and innovation.
• Build and maintain an aligned, forward-looking procurement pipeline to meet business needs.
• Manage major procurement projects—both regulated and non-regulated—producing high-quality tender documents, evaluation frameworks and reports.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand their needs and help identify best-fit solutions.
• Foster strong relationships with existing and potential suppliers through structured supplier relationship management.
• Partner with legal and procurement colleagues to ensure adherence to contractual terms and protect CrossCountry’s commercial interests.
• Drive supplier performance, resolve service issues, and ensure non-conformances are addressed promptly.
• Support process improvements that strengthen resilience and efficiency across the supply chain.
• Identify, deliver and track cost savings, commercial opportunities and added value.
• Benchmark supplier performance and negotiate contract changes to ensure continuous value delivery.
• Present strategies, pricing recommendations and insights to senior leadership.
• Leverage data analysis, demand profiling and market insights to inform pricing and supplier strategies.
• Be an expert user of Purchase-to-Pay systems and help promote best practice across the organisation.
• Maintain deep knowledge of supply markets, trends and key suppliers.
• Work collaboratively with Group Procurement and AUKT Central Procurement on cross-group initiatives.
• Utilise Crown Commercial Service (CCS) frameworks where appropriate.
• Carry out any additional duties as required by the Head of Procurement & Property.

Skills

Tender documentation

Tender management

Negotiation

Procurement experience

Stakeholder management

Excel analysis

CIPS membership

Tools

Purchase-to-Pay systems

Job description

CrossCountry is seeking a Category Manager – Indirect in Birmingham, offering a hybrid working model. You will lead a small team and own end-to-end procurement, from market engagement to contract award, ensuring value, governance and compliant operations.

You'll shape strategies for IT, indirect goods and services, drive supplier performance, and collaborate with stakeholders to deliver cost savings and robust tender documentation.