Procurement Category Manager

RBW Consulting; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

RBW Consulting partners with a leading healthcare and laboratory services organisation to recruit a Category Manager – Scientific Procurement in London. This hybrid role is 3 days onsite, offering exposure to strategic sourcing across scientific and laboratory spend.

You will lead supplier selection, contract negotiations and high-value procurement programs, collaborating with scientific, operational and commercial stakeholders to deliver measurable business impact.

Qualifications

• Experience in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Procurement.
• Experience within Life Sciences, Healthcare, Diagnostics, Biotechnology, or Medical Devices.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Experience managing complex procurement projects and RFPs.
• Commercially focused with strong stakeholder engagement abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies across scientific and laboratory spend.
• Lead supplier selection, tendering, and contract negotiations.
• Manage high-value procurement and sourcing projects.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, process improvements, and supplier innovation.
• Deliver procurement best practice and governance across assigned categories.
• Support transformation and continuous improvement programmes.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

RFPs management

Education

Degree in Life Sciences or related field

CIPS qualification (or working towards)

Job description

Category Manager – Scientific Procurement

London (Hybrid - 3 days onsite)

RBW Consulting is partnering with a major healthcare and laboratory services organisation to recruit a Category Manager – Scientific Procurement. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing procurement function undergoing significant transformation and investment.

You'll take ownership of strategic sourcing activities across scientific and laboratory-related spend categories, helping to deliver commercial value, supplier innovation, and procurement excellence across the business.

The Opportunity

As Category Manager, you will lead complex sourcing projects and supplier partnerships across areas including:

• Laboratory equipment
• Diagnostics and pathology services
• Scientific consumables
• Clinical and laboratory technologies
• Capital equipment and strategic procurement initiatives

Working closely with scientific, operational, and commercial stakeholders, you'll play a key role in shaping procurement strategy and delivering measurable business impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies across scientific and laboratory spend
• Lead supplier selection, tendering, and contract negotiations
• Manage high-value procurement and sourcing projects
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, process improvements, and supplier innovation
• Deliver procurement best practice and governance across assigned categories
• Support transformation and continuous improvement programmes

What We're Looking For

• Experience in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Procurement
• Experience within Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Diagnostics, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Laboratory Services, or Medical Devices
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills
• Experience managing complex procurement projects and RFPs
• Commercially focused with strong stakeholder engagement abilities
• Proven track record of delivering value and cost-saving initiatives

Highly Desirable

• Scientific, technical, or related degree
• CIPS qualification (or working towards)
• Experience procuring scientific equipment, laboratory services, diagnostics, or related categories

Why Join?

• Newly expanding procurement function with significant investment
• High-profile strategic role with strong visibility across the business
• Opportunity to influence supplier strategy and commercial outcomes
• Supportive leadership and genuine career progression opportunities
• Join an organisation undergoing exciting transformation and growth

If you're an experienced procurement professional with a background in scientific, healthcare, diagnostics, or life sciences environments and are looking for an opportunity to make a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.