Senior Category Manager

Brambles Limited; Addlestone; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global logistics company in the United Kingdom is looking for a Procurement Manager to develop sustainable sourcing strategies and lead contract negotiations for IT categories. The ideal candidate will have at least 8-12 years of experience in strategic sourcing and a strong track record of delivering cost savings. This role offers a hybrid remote work model and opportunities for professional growth within the organization.

Qualifications

• 8-12 years in Procurement or Strategic Sourcing, with at least 5+ years focused on Global IT categories.
• Proven experience in Global IT sourcing, contracts and category management.
• Experience with complex contract negotiations for multi-million-dollar IT deals.
• Strong track record in delivering cost savings and TCO reduction.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sustainable category sourcing strategies.
• Lead complex negotiations with suppliers to secure favorable terms.
• Oversee supplier performance management across key categories.

Skills

Adaptability

Category Strategy

Contract Management

Cost Management

Empathy

Market Analysis

Procurement Strategies

Risk Management

Supplier Management

Teamwork

Job description

Overview

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact.

You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. You can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our Hybrid Work Model.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities May Include:

• Develop and execute sustainable category sourcing strategies for the region/function that align with global and local procurement priorities.
• Act as a champion for strategic sourcing, ensuring that procurement initiatives deliver long-term value and meet organizational needs.
• Lead category management for key spend areas, applying data-driven insights, market intelligence, and advanced procurement techniques to maximize value and minimize risk. Ensure category strategies consider external market factors and emerging trends that could impact business objectives.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with senior business stakeholders, ensuring procurement is involved early in the sourcing process. Leverage procurement’s expertise to align sourcing initiatives with business needs, offering strategic advice that enhances procurement’s role within the organization.
• Lead complex negotiations with suppliers to secure favorable terms and manage pricing strategies. Ensure the implementation of new pricing agreements, manage supplier contracts, and conduct ongoing reviews to ensure compliance with contractual terms.
• Oversee supplier performance management across key categories, ensuring suppliers consistently meet performance, quality, and cost requirements.
• Ensure all procurement activities adhere to regulatory requirements, internal policies, and ethical standards. Develop strategies to minimize supply chain risk, including mitigating supplier risk, financial exposure, and potential disruptions.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for the procurement function, ensuring alignment with annual targets. Provide regular updates on procurement performance, cost savings, supplier performance, and compliance metrics to senior leadership.

8–12 years in Procurement or Strategic Sourcing, with at least 5+ years focused on Global IT categories.

Proven experience in:

• Global IT sourcing, contracts and category management (Infrastructure, Networks, Hardware, supply chain, Cloud, Enterprise Platforms, End-User Tech).
• Complex contract negotiations for multi-million-dollar IT deals.
• Risk management (cybersecurity, compliance, financial stability).
• Project procurement supporting large-scale IT programs.

Strong track record in:

• Delivering cost savings and TCO reduction.
• Managing stakeholder engagement across IT, Finance, and Legal.
• Driving category strategy and centralization globally.

Key Responsibilities:

Planning & Alignment

• Proactive demand forecasting and sourcing/contract planning with associated Towers/Functions.
• Lead procurement standardisation, simplification, and continuous process improvement initiatives

Stakeholder Management & Engagement

• Stakeholder mapping aligned to functional towers and budget ownership.
• Strengthen partnerships with functional leaders to support strategic procurement outcomes

Sourcing, Contract & Compliance

• Manage sourcing and contract lifecycle activities through CLM system, ensuring accurate system maintenance & utilisation
• Maintain contract integrity and oversee management contracts to ensure compliance and accuracy.

Financial & Commercial Delivery

• Achieve overall procurement commercial outcomes and cost optimisation across CAPEX and OPEX
• Help build a partnership driven supplier ecosystem that aligns to Brambles compliance, policies and consolidation priorities

Risk Management

• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, financial compliance & standards
• Proactively identify and mitigate supplier, commercial & contractual risks

Team Management & Collaboration

• Experience in Leading & Managing Team
• Supporting team members to help deliver goals and objectives
• Collaborating with I&T procurement team members to collaborate & help deliver team priorities & programs

Hybrid Remote

Skills to succeed in the role
Adaptability, Category Strategy, Contract Management, Cost Management, Empathy, Experimentation, Market Analysis, Procurement Strategies, Procurement Systems, Responsible Sourcing, Risk Management, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Management, Supplier Performance Management (PM), Taking Ownership, Teamwork, Understand Customers

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential. This means harnessing the unique skills and experience that each individual brings and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability.

Fraud Advisory: Individuals fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as Brambles or CHEP representatives have scheduled interviews and offered fraudulent employment opportunities with the intent to commit identity theft or solicit money. Brambles and CHEP never conduct interviews via online chat or request money as a term of employment. If you have a question as to the legitimacy of an interview or job offer, please contact us at [e-mail].