Global Category Manager - Stockport

Global Category Manager jobs

Category management in the procurement field is overseeing the acquisition of certain classes of goods or materials, often those that are somehow interconnected or interdependent. In larger companies and/or those where sourcing is international, an additional layer of management, the global category procurement manager, might be inserted.

Depending on how advanced the existing procurement is, the global category manager might be required to develop an entire global category procurement strategy or manage the one that is already in operation within a set of guidelines. Either way, the aim will be to reduce costs to the company, which will be achieved by negotiating deals and rates with supplier, forming partnerships and constantly analysing the market in which he or she is working.

A general aim will be to reduce or limit costs wherever possible, both within the employing company through systems, staffing and prudent economising and through the act of procurement itself. The global category manager will have to implement a worldwide plan of action throughout the company. This can mean seeking to impose consistency internationally to meet the results of forecasting, planning and analysis. But it can also involve the exact opposite: tailoring different procurement strategies to the different market environments to take advantage of local efficiencies.

Global Category Manager Jobs in Stockport

Only six miles south of Manchester, Stockport is situated on the confluence of the rivers Goyt, Tame and Mersey. It's a town that has long been associated with manufacturing and is a good location for those seeking Global Category Manager opportunities.

Contrary to what you would expect by looking at the town's name, Stockport was never much of a port town since the Mersey is a fairly narrow and shallow waterway in this region. Rather, the name simply combines the Old English words for 'marketplace' and 'hamlet'.

Indeed, Stockport has been a hub of commerce for hundreds of years, mainly as a source for textiles and hats, producing as many as six million pieces of headwear a year at the industry's peak.

Silk weaving and cotton spinning expanded during the 18th century with mills that were first powered by water, then steam. Other related industries included block making, trimming manufacture and leather ware.

Hat making in Stockport finally came to an end in the 1990s and the textile industry has also declined significantly. However, the town has moved with the times and its economy is now mainly based in the service sector.

The financial industry employs a large portion of Stockport's population, with companies like the Co-Op Bank and Swinton Insurance having facilities in the area.

In addition, manufacturing plays a part in the local economy. For example, BAE Systems, United Biscuits, PZ Cussons and NXP Semiconductors have factories in Stockport. What's more, Robinsons is a regional brewery that produces around 35,000 barrels of beer a year.