Category Specialist

This is a fantastic job opportunity for an experienced procurement/supply chain professional to join a globally renowned manufacturer at a Category Specialist.

This role has come about after the merger of the manufacturing and aftermarket parts of the business from a category perspective.

This because prides itself on a connected workforce and this is evident from the length of service of staff that can be seen across the board.

This Category Specialist will work closely with the European Category Leader for this area and focus on the chemicals category (including sealants, adhesives, cleaners etc)

What's On Offer:

• Circa £45K per annum basic salary + 20% bonus scheme
• Full benefits provided following screening call

Role Overview:

The purpose of the role is to support the Category leader in the design and implementation of Category strategies in Europe.

Your focus will be on delivering exceptional service to our Automotive business unit, spanning both production plants and the aftermarket distribution network.

Key Responsibilities:

• Category Strategy Development: Collaborate with the Category Manager to create, implement, and review category strategies aligned with global objectives.
• Negotiation and Sourcing: Manage the negotiation, sourcing, and contracting process to ensure service excellence, quality, competitiveness, and sustainability.
• Commercial Relationships: Act as the primary commercial contact with supply base.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with key stakeholders within the business unit, representing Procurement in project activities.
• Expertise and Collaboration: Serve as a regional expert for the category, participating in cross-functional category teams.
• Financial and Sustainability Targets: Deliver on committed financial and sustainability targets.
• Supplier Collaboration: Lead initiatives with suppliers to achieve cost reduction, generate cash flow, and mitigate supply risk.
• Tender Management: Manage feasibility/pre-award tenders and Engineering Change Requests, providing accurate product and cost data for business cases.
• Product Management Support: Engage directly with the Product Management Team to define the European range offering, ensuring fitment parts are available for sale.
• Innovation and Problem-Solving: Collaborate with Marketing and Product Management to explore new product solutions, materials, and designs for the aftermarket distribution network.

Qualifications:

• Experience: The successful candidate should have at proven experience within procurement, supplier development, or supply chain.
• Commercial: Will have proven cost reduction success and experience of implementing category strategy
• Communication Skills: You’ll be the bridge between suppliers, internal and external customers, and potentially competitors. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
• Analytical Mindset: Commercially and analytically experienced, you’ll be highly organized and results-oriented.
• Flexibility: Travel (both domestic and within Europe) will be required to ensure successful strategy implementation across regions.
• Language Skills: Strong verbal and written English skills are a must.
• Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with systems such as Ariba, SAP, PowerPoint, Excel, and MS SharePoint is advantageous.

If you’re passionate about category management, thrive in a collaborative environment, and are ready to make an impact, we encourage you to apply