Senior Category Manager

Michael Page; Tyseley; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit pension

Travel discount 75% for you, partner &

Friends and Family Day passes

Virtual GP

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Cycle to work

Retail discount portal

Job summary

Michael Page is seeking a Senior Category Manager based in Birmingham to oversee procurement strategies, manage supplier relationships and deliver value for the business. You will own category plans, lead procurement initiatives with stakeholders, develop frameworks where needed and ensure compliance with UK laws and industry standards.

Strong negotiation, spending analytics, and MCIPS progress are expected, with excellent communication across diverse teams and a focus on sustainable procurement

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent; MCIPS achieved or in progress.
• Experience in Category Management and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong analytical ability with spend data and ICT skills including e-procurement.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills; able to run procurement cycles independently.

Responsibilities

• Be the procurement expert for the assigned category and deliver the Category Plan.
• Lead procurement strategies with stakeholder engagement and develop frameworks where needed.
• Develop contractual agreements, manage supplier performance and ensure compliance with UK laws.
• Maintain governance, approve POs where applicable, and support sustainability commitments including ISO20400.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and contribute to group sourcing strategies to secure best value.

Skills

Category Management

Spend data analytics

e-procurement

Microsoft Office

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree / MCIPS (or working towards)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

As a Senior Category Manager you'll oversee procurement strategies to ensure the smooth running of procurement operations. Based in Birmingham, this role is all about managing supplier relationships and delivering value for the business.

Client Details

A large, customer-focused organisation responsible for delivering essential public services across a broad operational network, requiring secure, reliable, and scalable technology solutions.

Description

Be the procurement expert for the assigned category, ensuring full delivery of the Category Plan and all related contracts.

Lead procurement strategies with full stakeholder engagement, developing frameworks where needed and ensuring alignment with policies and processes.

Develop fit‑for‑purpose contractual agreements, manage supplier performance, and uphold compliance with UK laws and industry standards.

Maintain strong procurement governance, approve POs where applicable, and support sustainability commitments including ISO20400 improvements.

Lead stakeholder engagement, work with DFTO on key approvals, and contribute to group sourcing strategies to secure best value for the organisation.

Profile

• Degree‑level education or equivalent experience, with MCIPS achieved or a willingness to work towards it
• Experienced in Category Management
• Advanced analytical ability, confidence with spend data, and strong ICT skills including e‑procurement and Microsoft tools.
• Strong negotiation and commercial skills, able to run full procurement cycles independently and maintain high‑quality documentation.
• Excellent communicator who works well with diverse stakeholders, adapts to change, thinks creatively, and operates flexibly.

Job Offer

• Salary between £60,000 - £65,000 dependent on experience.
• A defined benefit pension from day 1 - one of the best in the UK.
• 75% off travel for you, your partner and dependents
• 8 Friends and Family Day passes to gift per annum on our network.
• A 24/7 Virtual GP service for you and your household.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)- A confidential employee benefit that supports you with personal or work‑related issues affecting your home life, work life, health, or wellbeing
• Our cycle to work scheme with Evans Cycles.
• A retail discount portal- offering savings, discounts and cashback at over 800 retailers and restaurants