Strategic Multi Category Manager (Fixed Term contract up to12 months)

Global Marine Group; Washington; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading provider of subsea connectivity solutions in Washington, UK, is seeking a Strategic Multi Category Manager to lead procurement strategies. This role will drive cost reduction, manage supplier relationships, and require excellent negotiation skills. Candidates must have a minimum of 7 years' experience in strategic procurement. The position offers a hybrid work model and competitive employee benefits.

Benefits

Group Pension

Life Cover

Private Medical Insurance

Dental Scheme

Fitness Club Subsidy

Cycle Scheme

Employee Assistance programme

Free on-site parking

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years' experience in strategic procurement or category management.
• Proven track record of developing and delivering category strategies.
• Strong understanding of contract law and commercial terms.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development of key procurement categories.
• Develop and execute comprehensive category plans.
• Drive supplier relationship management and oversee contracts.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Commercial acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Job Description

About Global Marine Group: Is a leading independent provider of subsea fibre optic connectivity solutions offering a broad range of services including consultancy, subsea cable engineering, installation and maintenance, covering the lifespan of a subsea fibre optic cable system which is delivered to customers worldwide.

Purpose

Due to the organisation experiencing increased strategic and operation requirements we have a new opportunity for a Strategic Multi Category Manager on a fixed-term contract. The purpose of this role is to lead the strategic development of key procurement categories, ensuring the organisation maximises value, improves commercial outcomes, and strengthens supplier performance.

Working closely with our Buyers and the Head of Procurement, the Strategic Multi Category Manager will develop and execute comprehensive category plans that drive value creation, cost reduction, and operational efficiency. The role will also support procurement delivery, provide leadership in supplier relationship management (SRM), and oversee Charter Party Agreements (CPA), embedding best practice, governance, and continuous improvement across the procurement function.

This role requires a highly strategic individual who can think ahead, identify opportunities, drive category direction and deliver long-term procurement plans.

Key Deliverables

• Define and implement category strategies aligned with business objectives and procurement goals.
• Collaborate with Buyers and the Head of Procurement to ensure category plans are actionable and measurable.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, including market analysis, supplier evaluation, and negotiation.
• Support procurement delivery through oversight of sourcing activities, contract execution, and supplier onboarding.
• Drive SRM activities, including supplier segmentation, performance reviews, and continuous improvement plans.
• Lead CPA activities to ensure commercial performance is tracked, reported, and optimised.
• Identify and deliver cost reduction opportunities without compromising quality or service.
• Develop and maintain category dashboards and reporting tools to monitor performance and compliance.
• Ensure procurement policies and procedures are followed and continuously improved.
• Provide guidance and support to Buyers on strategic procurement matters.
• Engage with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and align procurement strategies accordingly.
• Support risk management and mitigation strategies across the supply base.
• Champion procurement excellence and innovation across the organisation.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Bachelors degree in Business, Engineering or in a related field or related certification (e.g. CIPS, MCIPS or working towards).
• At least minimum of 7 years' experience in strategic procurement or category management.
• Proven track record of developing and delivering category strategies.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
• Experience in SRM and performance management frameworks.
• Ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Strong understanding of contract law and commercial terms.
• Experience in managing complex procurement projects.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally as required.

Ideal

• Experience in the marine, offshore renewables, or oil and gas sectors.
• Familiarity with CPA frameworks and procurement analytics.
• Experience in international procurement and global supply chains.
• Knowledge of sustainability and ESG considerations in procurement.
• Experience with procurement systems (e.g., IFS, Etc).

Location

This role is based in our North East office, Washington, UK and follows a hybrid working arrangement, with working 3 days in the office and 2 days working remotely each week.

This role is currently being advertised internally and externally, with a closing date of 4th January 2026, but may close sooner if we receive a high volume of applications before hand.

To ensure our organisation complies with immigration rules, all candidates must provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK when applying. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor candidates and on Graduate visas. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of submitting your application, please assume that your application has not been successful.

About The Company

The Group consists of three business units; Global Marine provides fibre optic cable installation and maintenancesolutions to the telecommunications and oil & gas markets, OceanIQ provides unparalleled subsea cabledata,survey, route engineering, permittingand consultancyservicesfortelecom and powercable projects and SubConnect which provides extensive expertise and experience in all aspects of subsea cables, ranging from design and testing to the provision of subsea housing and interconnectors.

With a global workforce of over 800 talented individuals, together the Group has installed over 315,000 kilometres of subsea telecoms cable, performed maintenance operations on 33% of the worlds fibre optic cables and has detailed data records on over 2.8million km of cable - 97% of all fibre, and 90% of all power cable including, over 6,000 historic cable faults.

The Global Marine Group team is full of passionate people, sharing a wealth of knowledge and constantly achieving excellence.

Employee Benefits

• Group Pension with access to Independent Financial Advisor
• Life Cover – inclusive with Group Pension Plan
• Private Medical Insurance and Medicash Plan
• Dental Scheme – at a subsidised cost
• Fitness Club Subsidy
• X2 Professional Subscriptions
• Cycle Scheme – As per the green initiative, approved by the Government scheme
• Eye Sight Test contribution
• Perkbox - employee discount scheme along with a Wellness Hub
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
• 25 days Annual Leave
• Option to purchase an additional 5 days annual leave per year
• Long Service Awards
• Reward & Recognition
• Referral programme
• Employee Assistance programme
• 3 paid volunteer days
• Free on-site parking - At all sites

Global Marine Group are committed to making our recruitment process accessible and inclusive for everyone. If you require reasonable adjustments for your interview, please reach out to during your recruitment process. We are more than happy to accommodate your needs to ensure you have the best possible experience during the selection process.