Strategic Category Manager — 4-Day Week, £50k

White Label Recruitment Ltd; Hessle; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

White Label Recruitment are working with a well-established manufacturing business in Hull to recruit a Category Manager for the procurement function. You will own key product categories, develop commodity strategies and drive measurable cost savings across a large supplier portfolio.

The role focuses on supplier development, strategic sourcing, negotiations and year-on-year cost improvements, with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement at the core.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' procurement experience within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Proven ability to manage and develop a significant supplier portfolio.
• Strong track record of delivering year-on-year cost savings.
• Experience delivering strategic procurement projects with measurable financial benefits.
• Strong negotiation, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Confident conducting supplier audits, reviews and risk assessments.
• Strong commercial and financial awareness.
• Experience using MRP systems and procurement processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement commodity strategies across allocated product categories.
• Drive year-on-year cost reductions against agreed KPIs.
• Deliver the best Total Cost of Acquisition across the supply base.
• Manage and develop strategic supplier relationships.
• Source, assess and approve new suppliers.
• Negotiate commercial and service-level agreements.
• Lead supplier and commodity risk assessments and develop contingency plans.
• Work with suppliers to support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Support new product development alongside Supplier Quality.
• Lead regular supply review meetings with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Conduct supplier audits and performance reviews.
• Work cross-functionally to resolve supply chain issues and improve procurement processes.
• Maintain accurate pricing information and procurement data within the MRP system.
• Identify and deliver strategic projects generating significant commercial savings.

Skills

Procurement experience

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Strategic sourcing

Cost savings

Supplier development

Data analysis

Analytical

Education

CIPS qualification (advantageous)

Tools

MRP systems

Job description

White Label Recruitment are working with a well-established manufacturing business in Hull to recruit a Category Manager for the procurement function. You will own key product categories, develop commodity strategies and drive measurable cost savings across a large supplier portfolio.

The role focuses on supplier development, strategic sourcing, negotiations and year-on-year cost improvements, with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement at the core.