Category Manager

Ref: AS6413147

Chester, UK

£55,000

• Permanent
• Strategic Sourcing
• Supplier Negotiations
• Manufacturing Procurement

About the candidate

An experienced procurement professional with over six years’ experience across category management, strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management within the manufacturing sector. Based in Chester, UK, they are seeking a permanent opportunity and are available to start in two weeks.

They have managed sizeable category portfolios, led supplier negotiations and worked closely with cross-functional teams to align procurement activity with production needs. Confident using ERP systems, they bring a practical, commercially focused approach to improving supplier performance, delivery reliability and procurement compliance.

What makes them great?

• Strong cost reduction track record: Managed a category portfolio worth around £30m and helped reduce costs by 15% through strategic negotiations and supplier management.
• Commercially focused sourcing: Delivered a 20% reduction in annual spend through effective supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Manufacturing sector experience: Brings hands-on procurement experience across regional manufacturing, national beverage production and large-scale food production environments.

Areas of expertise

• Strategic sourcing: Experienced in managing end-to-end procurement processes, supplier selection and negotiation to support business goals.
• Supplier relationship management: Skilled at building collaborative supplier partnerships that improve performance, service levels and delivery reliability.
• Procurement systems and reporting: Confident using ERP systems and analytical reporting to improve visibility, compliance and operational efficiency.