Procurement Category Specialist - Chemicals

Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS); England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering organisation is looking for a Procurement Category Specialist - Chemicals to manage supplier performance and drive strategic procurement initiatives. This role offers a competitive salary between £50,000-£56,000, a 9% annual bonus, and hybrid working arrangements. Ideal candidates will have 3-5 years of procurement experience and strong stakeholder management skills. Opportunity for growth into a senior procurement leadership role is also highlighted.

Benefits

Annual bonus

Hybrid working

Opportunity for career advancement

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of procurement experience required.
• Direct procurement background essential.
• Must be commercially savvy with strong negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support category strategies aligned to business priorities.
• Lead cost reduction and value improvement initiatives.
• Build and manage strong supplier relationships.

Skills

Procurement experience

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Complex problem-solving

Education

Degree-level education or A-levels with relevant experience

CIPS qualification or working towards it

Job description

Procurement Category Specialist - Chemicals - Global Engineering Organisation

Locations: Manchester/ Surrey Or Yorkshire Offices (Hybrid - 2 days per week onsite)

Salary: £50,000-£56,000 + Annual bonus & Strong Benefits Packages

Category Spend: Approx. £50m

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious procurement professional to step into a Junior Procurement Manager position within a highly specialised chemicals and gases category.

Working across special gases, packaged gases, electronic gases and chemicals, the role blends strategic procurement leadership with some hands‑on tactical activity. You will drive productivity savings, manage supplier performance, and influence a broad stakeholder group within a complex and technical environment.

You will also collaborate with wider EMEA procurement teams, gaining exposure to international sourcing and benefiting from the scale and best practice of a global organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and support the delivery of category strategies aligned to business priorities and productivity targets
• Lead and contribute to cost reduction and value improvement projects (value engineering, alternative sourcing, process optimisation)
• Build and manage strong supplier relationships, driving continuous improvement and innovation
• Identify and assess new suppliers to support category development
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms and contracts to secure competitive agreements
• Conduct market analysis to understand supply conditions, price fluctuations, regulatory changes and innovations
• Ensure robust contracts and compliance measures are in place to mitigate sourcing risks
• Manage the procurement lifecycle including contract drafting, review and execution
• Monitor supplier performance, manage KPIs and support corrective actions
• Promote total cost of ownership thinking and challenge legacy processes
• Work closely with production planning, inventory and logistics teams to support supply chain efficiency
• Partner with senior business stakeholders (Heads of BU, finance, operations, supply chain) to align procurement initiatives with operational needs
• Collaborate with EMEA/global procurement teams to share insights and align sourcing activities

What will the ideal candidate look like?

You will bring strong foundations in procurement and a desire to develop your strategic capability in a global, technical environment.

Essential experience

• 3-5 years' procurement experience
• Direct procurement background
• Strong stakeholder management-confident, credible, and able to challenge constructively
• Experience supporting both strategic and tactical procurement activities
• Commercially savvy with strong negotiation skills
• Comfortable operating in complex or ambiguous environments
• Exposure to international markets or multi-regional suppliers

Desirable

• Experience in chemicals, industrial gases, special gases or engineering/technical categories
• Degree-level education (or A-levels with strong relevant professional experience)
• CIPS qualification (or working towards it)
• Understanding of contract drafting and contract management
• Experience within an engineering or industrial environment

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary £50,000-£58,000
• 9% annual bonus (50% individual, 25% business, 25% department)
• Annual 18% bonus
• Hybrid working: 2 days per week onsite
• Monthly procurement meeting in Woking
• Occasional UK travel (minimal global travel)
• High visibility across the business with significant category ownership
• Opportunity to develop into a more senior procurement leadership role

Interview Process

• Initial call (30-45 mins): CV walkthrough and experience alignment
• Final panel Interview