Category Manager

The role oversees end-to-end category management within a technical manufacturing environment, developing sourcing strategies, managing key suppliers, and driving cost optimisation. It combines strategic planning with hands-on procurement activity, partnering closely with cross-functional teams to improve performance and support business growth.

Client Details

Our client is an established manufacturing business known for its strong technical capability and commitment to safety, innovation, and continuous improvement. Operating in a regulated, engineering-led environment, they combine robust production processes with a forward-thinking approach to category strategy, supplier development, and operational excellence.

Description

Your key responsibilities as Category Manager will be:

Category Strategy & Governance • Develop, own, and execute multi-year category strategies aligned with business objectives.

• Lead category planning including cost roadmaps, technology development, and supplier capability assessments.


• Segment suppliers into strategic, preferred, development, and exit paths.


• Ensure category strategies support sustainability and ESG targets, including net-zero ambitions.

Sourcing & Commercial Management • Lead major sourcing events, competitive tenders, and complex negotiations.

• Develop cost models, should-cost analysis and long-term cost-down plans.


• Manage and negotiate long-term agreements for high-value or high-volume components.


• Ensure commercial terms, pricing structures, and life-cycle costs deliver optimal total cost of ownership.

Supplier Relationship & Performance • Build and maintain strong, collaborative supplier relationships across assigned categories.

• Lead Quarterly Business Reviews covering KPIs, delivery, quality, and risk.


• Drive supplier development initiatives focused on capability, efficiency, and performance improvements.


• Ensure supplier compliance with ethical sourcing, Code of Conduct and ESG standards.

New Product Introduction (NPI) • Lead the sourcing and supply chain elements of NPI within your categories.

• Support DFM/DFA and technical reviews alongside Engineering teams.


• Oversee PPAP, sample approvals, tooling readiness and production ramp-up.


• Ensure NPI quotations, capacity plans, lead times and quality commitments are robust and validated.

Risk Management • Identify single-source issues and implement dual-sourcing or alternative strategies.

• Maintain category-specific risk registers and mitigation plans.


• Support business continuity planning, capacity mapping and geopolitical assessments to ensure supply resilience.

Data, Systems & Process • Maintain accurate category dashboards covering pricing, performance, risk and improvements.

• Ensure data integrity across all MRP category information.


• Support procurement continuous improvement initiatives, enhancing efficiency and governance.


• Profile

The ideal Category Manager will have:

• Deep knowledge of PCBAs (essential) and experience across categories such as plastics, metals, sub-assemblies or ceramics.


• Excellent commercial negotiation skills and experience managing long-term agreements.


• Strong macro-environmental awareness, understanding geopolitical trends, commodity movements and supply-chain vulnerabilities, with the ability to translate these into effective risk-mitigation strategies.


• Confident stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.


• A proactive, structured problem-solving mindset.


• Ability to interpret technical drawings and collaborate closely with Engineering.


• CIPS membership or equivalent experience.

Job Offer

As Category Manager you will benefit from a competitive package including:

• Competitive salary package


• Twice-yearly bonus


• Hybrid working (3 days in the office)


• Private medical via Bupa


• Life insurance


• Flexible working hours + early-finish Fridays

Manufacturing and Production

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