Procurement Manager -Senior Buyer - MRO - Indirect Category

Michael Page; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Salary 60-65k GBP plus bonus

Job summary

Michael Page is seeking a Procurement Manager/Senior Buyer / Category Manager for a Manchester-based role with a hybrid working arrangement. The position focuses on indirect procurement across MRO categories, delivering sourcing strategies, supplier governance, and stakeholder collaboration to optimise spend and drive value.

Essential duties include leading category strategies, managing tenders and RFQs, and driving supplier performance and ESG objectives across sites.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to manage indirect spend categories across multiple sites.
• Experience delivering savings and procurement value.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies for indirect spend across MRO and related areas.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing projects, RFQs and negotiations.
• Build and maintain supplier partnerships and drive performance improvements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements into procurement actions.
• Track savings, cost avoidance and procurement metrics.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Negotiation

Contract management

Sourcing strategies

Multitasking

Communication

Job description

Procurement Manager - Senior Buyer / Category Manager - MRO - position with a well-established manufacturing business in Manchester, offering a salary of 60,000 - 65,000 plus bonus and a hybrid working arrangement.

Client Details

This role is within the FMCG - Manufacturing industry and is based in Manchester.

We're seeking a commercially astute Indirect Procurement / Senior Buyer / Category Manager to join a growing procurement function, driving strategic sourcing initiatives across a diverse range of indirect categories. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining strategic category management with stakeholder engagement, supplier development, and delivering measurable business value.

Working in a hybrid environment, you'll partner with manufacturing sites and business functions across multiple locations to optimise spend, mitigate risk, and support operational excellence.

Description

As Procurement Manager/ Senior Buyer / Category Manager, you will develop and execute sourcing strategies across a broad indirect spend portfolio, including:

• MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Operations)
• Engineering Services
• Facilities Management
• Utilities
• Site Services
• PPE
• Professional Services
• Waste Management
• Other indirect expenditure categories

You will play a key role in delivering cost optimisation, supplier performance improvements, contract governance, sustainability objectives, and long-term procurement value.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing projects, tenders, RFQs and negotiations.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimisation and efficiency improvements.
• Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles when evaluating suppliers and procurement solutions.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with company policies, governance standards and delegated authorities.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain effective supplier partnerships.
• Negotiate robust commercial agreements and contracts.
• Drive supplier performance, service improvements and innovation.
• Manage supplier risk, business continuity and contractual compliance.
• Support responsible sourcing and ESG objectives across the supply base.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with operational, engineering, manufacturing and corporate stakeholders.
• Understand business requirements and translate them into procurement strategies.
• Influence decision-making and provide commercial procurement expertise.
• Collaborate across functions to deliver procurement and operational objectives.

Cost & Value Delivery

• Deliver validated savings and cost avoidance initiatives.
• Support annual budgeting and spend forecasting processes.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation and specification improvements.
• Track and report procurement benefits and performance metrics.

Market Analysis & Reporting

• Monitor market trends and supplier developments.
• Analyse spend data and procurement performance.
• Maintain accurate supplier, contract and sourcing records.
• Provide regular reporting and procurement insights to leadership teams.

Profile

We're looking for a proactive procurement professional who combines strong commercial acumen with excellent stakeholder management skills.

Essential Experience

• Experience manager MRO as a category spend area with the ability to manage end-end procurment across a broad portfolio.
• Minimum 4 years' experience within Indirect Procurement, Strategic Sourcing or Category Management.
• Experience within a manufacturing, FMCG, industrial or engineering environment.
• Proven track record delivering savings and procurement value.
• Experience managing indirect spend categories and supplier relationships.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Experience leading tender and RFQ processes from inception through to implementation.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Commercially minded with excellent analytical capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Proactive and self-motivated approach.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Resilient, adaptable and solutions-focused.
• Passion for continuous improvement and supplier innovation

Job Offer

• Competitive salary of 60,000 + Car Allowance + Bonus
• Hybrid working model - on side in Manchester a couple of days
• Opportunity to influence procurement strategy across multiple sites
• Exposure to a substantial indirect spend portfolio
• Career development within a dynamic manufacturing environment that is growing the team
• Collaborative and supportive leadership team