Strategic Category Manager: Procurement & Growth

Livewest; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working 2-3 days

26-30 days leave

Pension contributions 9%+

Health benefits

Training & development

Family support

Wellbeing programs

Cycle to work

Volunteer days

Discounts

Job summary

LiveWest is seeking a Category Manager to lead strategic sourcing and contract management across designated categories, balancing value for money with risk management and operational excellence.

You will develop category strategies, drive sourcing activity, and monitor supplier performance to ensure contracts deliver long-term value. This role offers hybrid working and scope to influence strategic procurement across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Strong stakeholder management and supplier engagement.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills at all levels.
• Strong negotiation and commercial awareness.
• Effective project management and organisational skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and numeracy skills.
• Good proficiency in Microsoft 365.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category strategies that support business objectives, maximise value and manage commercial risk.
• Lead sourcing and procurement activities, ensuring fair, compliant and commercially effective processes.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders to understand requirements and develop procurement solutions.
• Manage supplier relationships and contract performance, ensuring delivery against agreed outcomes.
• Analyse spend, market trends and supplier performance data to support decision making and identify opportunities.
• Track savings and forecast benefits with finance and operational teams, providing performance reporting.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Negotiation

Project management

Analytical thinking

Numeracy

Education

A-Level or equivalent

CIPS membership / studying towards

Tools

Microsoft 365

ERP systems

Job description

LiveWest is seeking a Category Manager to lead strategic sourcing and contract management across designated categories, balancing value for money with risk management and operational excellence.

You will develop category strategies, drive sourcing activity, and monitor supplier performance to ensure contracts deliver long-term value. This role offers hybrid working and scope to influence strategic procurement across the organisation.