Strategic Category Manager - Eng. Services & Materials

Gold Group; Farnborough; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 101,000; Part time

Job summary

Gold Group is seeking an experienced Category Manager for Engineering Services & Materials in Farnborough, requiring 3+ years in strategic category management within engineering or technology spend. You will shape category strategies, manage suppliers and lead sourcing activities across a hybrid working model.

You will influence business planning, negotiate contracts and drive value while transitioning from SAP Ariba to Oracle Fusion, supporting a mature Source-to-Pay approach.

Qualifications

• 3+ years' strategic category management experience within similar categories of spend.
• Experience negotiating manufacturing, engineering services and supply contracts.
• Strong supplier relationship management and stakeholder engagement experience.
• Excellent commercial, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Experience managing procurement activity across the project lifecycle.
• Strong understanding of procurement risk, supply resilience and commercial governance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work independently, interpret data and use insight to support decision making.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Practical experience with Source-to-Pay (S2P) technology.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies for Engineering Services and Materials.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers, providing early procurement engagement to influence business planning.
• Lead sourcing activity, including developing sourcing strategies, supporting investment cases, running competitive tenders and negotiating complex contracts.
• Identify opportunities to deliver cost savings, value, innovation and supply-chain improvements.
• Manage category-specific risks including supply resilience, information security, geopolitical, financial and sustainability risks.
• Support Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) across key contracts, ensuring supplier performance, innovation and value realisation.
• Use market intelligence and supplier insight to inform sourcing and category decisions.
• Work collaboratively across engineering, manufacturing, finance, operations and other business functions.
• Support procurement and supply-chain transformation, including the transition from SAP Ariba to Oracle Fusion and development of a mature Source-to-Pay model.
• Challenge existing ways of working and contribute to the continued development of the procurement function.
• Balance commercial, operational and risk considerations to achieve the best outcomes for the business.

Skills

Category management

Procurement

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Contract management

Sourcing strategies

Vendor relationship

S2P technology

NEC contracts

Education

Degree or equivalent professional experience

MCIPS desirable

Tools

SAP Ariba

Oracle Fusion

Job description

Gold Group is seeking an experienced Category Manager for Engineering Services & Materials in Farnborough, requiring 3+ years in strategic category management within engineering or technology spend. You will shape category strategies, manage suppliers and lead sourcing activities across a hybrid working model.

You will influence business planning, negotiate contracts and drive value while transitioning from SAP Ariba to Oracle Fusion, supporting a mature Source-to-Pay approach.