Strategic Category Manager - Defence/Regulated (Reading)

First Military Recruitment Ltd; Old Warren; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

First Military Recruitment are seeking a Category Manager to develop and implement category strategies for a complex and highly regulated environment. The role focuses on delivering measurable benefits through end-to-end procurement and strong stakeholder engagement.

You will support the existing Category Manager, require SC clearance and UK nationality, and be comfortable working in a defence-adjacent sector with MS Office 365 proficiency.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of category management experience in a regulated environment.
• Experience working in a highly regulated industry.
• Proven supplier relationship management and end-to-end procurement experience.
• SC clearance is required.
• UK national only.
• Ability to support the Category Manager.
• Strong strategic mindset with high attention to detail.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Experience creating packs/materials for supplier reviews.
• Proficient with MS Office 365.
• Desirable: public procurement background.
• Defence experience desirable.
• Some contract management involvement.
• Familiar with Jaggaer.
• CIPS & MCIPS qualifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Category Strategies for assigned sub-group of categories, balancing short and long-term objectives to meet business strategy.
• Support and execute stakeholder management.
• Deliver benefits through category management interventions within a complex project / programme delivery environment.
• Adopt a polite yet tenacious attitude to achieve goals and move projects towards completion.

Skills

Category management

Regulated industry

Supplier management

End-to-end procurement

SC clearance

UK national

Support Category Manager

Strategic

Attention to detail

Stakeholder engagement

Supplier review packs

MS Office 365

Tools

Jaggaer

Job description

First Military Recruitment are seeking a Category Manager to develop and implement category strategies for a complex and highly regulated environment. The role focuses on delivering measurable benefits through end-to-end procurement and strong stakeholder engagement.

You will support the existing Category Manager, require SC clearance and UK nationality, and be comfortable working in a defence-adjacent sector with MS Office 365 proficiency.