Procurement Category Leader

BAE Systems; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Procurement Category Leader to drive sourcing strategies and enhance procurement excellence. In this dynamic role, you'll collaborate across teams to optimize category strategies and foster strong relationships with suppliers and stakeholders. Your expertise in negotiation and category management will be crucial in delivering cost-effective and sustainable solutions. This position offers a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements, allowing you to thrive in a supportive environment. If you're passionate about procurement and eager to make an impact, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in negotiating pricing and contractual terms.
• In-depth knowledge in managing categories for effective sourcing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and stakeholders.

Skills

Negotiation Skills

Relationship Management

Process Improvement

Category Management

Team Leadership

Education

CIPS Level 5 Qualification

Degree in Business-related Field

Job description

Job Description - Procurement Category Leader (00126520)

Job title: Procurement Category Leader

Location: UK Wide - We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements - please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.

Salary: £46,000+ dependent on skills and experience

What you’ll be doing:

• Contribute to the development and execution of sourcing strategies for assigned categories, ensuring alignment with business objectives and delivering cost-effective, sustainable solutions
• Collaborate across teams to optimise category strategies, share insights, and drive continuous improvement
• Build and maintain strong relationships with both suppliers, internal and external stakeholders to ensure procurement strategies meet operational and strategic needs
• Support the management of the procurement pipeline, ensuring visibility and compliance with established processes
• For roles with direct reports, lead and support your team members, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to drive procurement excellence

Your skills and experiences:

• Proven experience in negotiating pricing and contractual terms with suppliers to secure the best value for the business
• Ability to build and maintain close, trusted relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, fostering effective communication and teamwork
• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement new opportunities for process improvement, problem-solving, and collaboration—ideally within a procurement or similar environment
• In-depth knowledge and experience in managing categories, including risk and opportunity management, to deliver value and ensure effective sourcing strategies
• Previous experience in managing supplier categories, developing category strategies and driving performance improvements through effective category planning and sourcing
• Ideally, you will be working towards or already hold a Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) Level 5 qualification, or a similar professional qualification. Alternatively, a degree in a business-related field (e.g. Economics, Business, Finance) would be advantageous
• Experience in leading or managing a team, providing direction, support, and development to ensure high performance and successful delivery of procurement goals

Closing Date: 1 st May 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.