Junior Category Specialist

Essentra; Jarrow; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Pension matching

Life assurance

25 days leave

Birthday day off

Volunteer day

Employee discounts

Car scheme

Holiday purchase scheme

Cycle to work

Employee assistance

Job summary

Essentra plc is seeking a Junior Category Specialist to join our procurement team in the UK. You will support strategic procurement initiatives across multiple subcategories with a focus on data, reporting, and supplier performance to deliver value and efficiency.

Based in our Jarrow office with hybrid working, you will assist Category Managers in data cleansing, spend analysis, RFQ support, and governance processes while developing your sourcing expertise and professional qualifications such as

Qualifications

• Strong attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Good Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, basic analysis).
• Organised with strong administrative and coordination capability.
• Clear communication and willingness to learn.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Commercial outlook.
• Degree educated or equivalent (& proven track record).
• Specialist Sourcing Qualification (CIPS).
• Prior experience in manufacturing.
• Prior experience of managing business critical suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and coordination support to Category Managers and Category Specialists across direct procurement categories.
• Collect, cleanse, and maintain spend data, supplier information, and contract records to support category activity and reporting.
• Produce regular procurement reports and dashboards, including spend tracking, savings tracking, and supplier performance data.
• Support sourcing activities by assisting with RFQs, tender documentation, and bid comparisons, ensuring data accuracy and completeness.
• Maintain procurement systems and databases, ensuring supplier and contract data is accurate and up to date.
• Assist in monitoring supplier performance by updating KPIs, scorecards, and tracking actions from supplier review meetings.
• Support the implementation of procurement processes, policies, and governance standards across sites and business units.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to gather requirements, data inputs, and updates required for sourcing and reporting activities.
• Support onboarding of new suppliers and ensure documentation, compliance checks, and system setup are completed.
• Assist with ESG and sustainability data collection, including supplier certifications, emissions data, and compliance records.
• Provide general administrative and project support to procurement and supply chain initiatives as required.

Skills

Strong attention to detail

Excel

Clear communication

Organised

Willingness to learn

multitask management

Commercial outlook

Education

Degree educated or equivalent

Specialist Sourcing Qualification (CIPS)

Tools

Excel

Job description

We are looking for a Junior Category Specialist to join our procurement team.

This role will focus on supporting the delivery of strategic procurement initiatives across multiple regional and global Good for Resale spend subcategories with an annual spend of c.£50M.

Providing robust data, analysis, and reporting to enable category optimisation, sourcing activity, and supplier performance improvement, supporting the delivery of commercial value, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative and coordination support to Category Managers and Category Specialists across direct procurement categories
• Collect, cleanse, and maintain spend data, supplier information, and contract records to support category activity and reporting
• Produce regular procurement reports and dashboards, including spend tracking, savings tracking, and supplier performance data
• Support sourcing activities by assisting with RFQs, tender documentation, and bid comparisons, ensuring data accuracy and completeness
• Maintain procurement systems and databases, ensuring supplier and contract data is accurate and up to date
• Assist in monitoring supplier performance by updating KPIs, scorecards, and tracking actions from supplier review meetings
• Support the implementation of procurement processes, policies, and governance standards across sites and business units
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to gather requirements, data inputs, and updates required for sourcing and reporting activities
• Support onboarding of new suppliers and ensure documentation, compliance checks, and system setup are completed
• Assist with ESG and sustainability data collection, including supplier certifications, emissions data, and compliance records
• Provide general administrative and project support to procurement and supply chain initiatives as required

Education, Qualifications and Experience:

• Strong attention to detail and data accuracy
• Good Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, basic analysis)
• Organised with strong administrative and coordination capability
• Clear communication and willingness to learn
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Commercial outlook
• Degree educated or equivalent (& proven track record)
• Specialist Sourcing Qualification (CIPS)
• Prior experience in manufacturing
• Prior experience of managing business critical suppliers

What we offer:

• Discretionary Annual Bonus
• Up to 5% matched pension contribution
• 4x annual salary life assurance
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Extra paid day off for your birthday
• Paid day off for volunteering
• Employee discounts through MyDiscounts platform
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

This is a hybrid role, with 2-3 days per week based in our Jarrow office.

Essentra plc is a leading global provider of essential components and solutions, focusing on the manufacture and distribution of plastic injection moulded, vinyl dip moulded and metal items.

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Essentra's global network extends to 28 countries worldwide and includes c.3,000 employees, 14 manufacturing facilities, 26 distribution centres and 37 sales & service centres serving c.64,000 customers with a rapid supply of low cost but essential products for a variety of applications in industries such as equipment manufacturing, automotive, fabrication, electronics, medical and renewable energy.