Regional Category Manager MRO & Packaging

Ardagh Group; Chester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A multinational packaging company in the UK seeks a European Procurement Category Manager for MRO and Packaging. The role entails developing sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, and driving best practices. Ideal candidates will have 5–10 years of procurement experience, strong negotiation and analytical skills, and a collaborative spirit. This position offers an opportunity to influence procurement practices and contribute to business strategy.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in Procurement or a comparable role in Consulting.
• Proven track record in managing procurement categories.
• Experience in cross-functional teams within multicultural organisations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for MRO and Packaging.
• Manage supplier relationships for performance and compliance.
• Collaborate with stakeholders on aligning strategies.

Skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Project execution

Supplier management

Stakeholder management

Education

University degree

MBA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

E-sourcing tools (e.g., Coupa, Archlet)

Job description

Role Description

As the European procurement category manager for MRO and Packaging, the role holder will be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, and delivering value across multiple levers. This role will drive best‑in‑class procurement practice and ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations are met.

The role reports solid line to the European Procurement Director.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with key stakeholders to understand business requirements and align category strategies including sourcing execution.
• Support budget planning, cost modeling and TCO evaluation for in-scope categories.
• Identify, assess and manage supplier relationships to ensure performance, compliance and continuous improvement.
• Develop and negotiate commercial contract terms in collaboration with the legal team.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and apply best practices to the categories.
• Implement regional pillar of the category strategy contributing to the overall procurement and business strategy.
• Continuously drive adoption and development of new opportunities by integrating innovative ideas.

Key Requirements

• University degree required; MBA preferred
• Procurement certification is an advantage
• Consulting background is a plus
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with e‑sourcing tools (e.g., Coupa, Archlet) is a plus
• 5–10 years of experience in Procurement or a comparable role in Consulting
• Proven track record in managing procurement categories
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross‑functional teams within multicultural organisations

• Advanced category management skills, including:
• Understanding business needs
• Supply market analysis
• Value chain mapping
• Cost model evaluation
• Monitoring commodity trends
• Developing strategic roadmaps and actionable plans

• Ability to build business cases considering Total Cost of Ownership and value beyond price
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills
• Advanced stakeholder management capabilities:

• Effective communication and influencing skills
• Ability to persuade and simplify complex messages

• Strong project execution and implementation skills
• Experience in supplier management
• Strategic mindset with the ability to think globally and act locally

Key Ardagh behavioral skills: Change leader, customer oriented, target-driven, cross-collaborative, building high‑performant teams, & lead by example