Category Manager - Indirect Procurement

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Health insurance

Professional development allowance

Home office setup stipend

Travel for key business needs

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Category Manager specializing in Indirect Procurement to join our progressive team. This remote role supports East London operations within South Africa, developing category strategies to deliver cost savings and manage supplier performance.

You will leverage market analysis, negotiation, and stakeholder collaboration to optimize spend across IT, Marketing, Facilities and Professional Services, while driving value and risk mitigation in a remote setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (Supply Chain, Business, Finance).
• 5–7 years of progressive experience in indirect procurement, category management, or strategic sourcing.
• Proven track record of developing and executing category strategies delivering significant cost savings.
• Expertise in negotiation, contract management, and supplier relationship management.
• Strong analytical, financial acumen and proficiency with procurement software and tools.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management, effective in remote settings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies for indirect spend areas (IT, Marketing, Facilities, Professional Services).
• Conduct market intelligence and supplier analysis to identify sourcing opportunities and risks.
• Lead complex negotiations to secure favorable contracts, pricing, and terms.
• Manage key supplier relationships and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align procurement with business goals.
• Monitor performance against budgets and savings targets, report value delivered.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier Management

Market Analysis

Stakeholder Management

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

Tools

ERP systems

Spend analytics tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced and strategic Category Manager specializing in Indirect Procurement to join their progressive team, working remotely to support operations that include East London . This role is critical for developing and executing category strategies that deliver significant cost savings, mitigate risks, and enhance value for non-production related goods and services. You will leverage your expertise in market analysis, negotiation, and supplier management to optimize spend across designated categories.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive category strategies for indirect spend areas (e.g., IT, Marketing, Facilities, Professional Services).
• Conduct thorough market intelligence and supplier analysis to identify sourcing opportunities and risks.
• Lead complex negotiations with suppliers to secure favorable contracts, pricing, and terms.
• Manage key supplier relationships, ensuring performance meets contractual obligations and driving continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and ensure procurement solutions align with strategic objectives.
• Monitor category performance against budget and savings targets, reporting on key metrics and value delivered.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.
• 5-7 years of progressive experience in indirect procurement, category management, or strategic sourcing.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful category strategies, delivering significant cost savings.
• Expertise in negotiation, contract management, and supplier relationship management.
• Strong analytical skills, financial acumen, and proficiency in procurement software and tools.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, effective in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary and a substantial bonus structure.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering exceptional flexibility and work-life integration.
• Comprehensive premium health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous allowance for professional development, home office setup, and travel for key business needs.
• Significant autonomy and influence over procurement strategies and spend management.