Category Manager

Category Manager – Indirects, Aftersales & NPD
Sector: Manufacturing 
Location: Birmingham - Hybrid – 3 days on-site
Salary: Up to £55,000 + excellent benefits
Sector: Advanced Manufacturing
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

A leading global manufacturer with a strong reputation for engineering excellence is seeking an experienced Category Manager to take ownership of a substantial spend portfolio across indirect goods and services, aftermarket components, and NPD support.

This is a key strategic role within a high-performing procurement function, based at the organisation’s European headquarters. Working within a collaborative and forward-thinking culture, you’ll play a pivotal part in driving value, ensuring supply continuity, and enabling innovation across the business.
 
The Role

You will lead category strategy development, supplier partnerships, and sourcing activity across a broad non-production portfolio. Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and deliver category strategies across multiple indirect and aftermarket categories.
• Conduct spend analysis, demand forecasting and market intelligence to identify optimisation opportunities.
• Build multi-year plans for supplier development, sustainability, and risk mitigation.
• Drive alignment across departments to optimise total cost of ownership.
• Monitor KPIs and adjust strategies to deliver measurable value.
• Integrate procurement into early-stage product development activities.
• Engage suppliers early to influence cost, design and manufacturability.
• Identify, evaluate and develop suppliers globally.
• Lead RFP/RFQ processes and negotiate robust commercial agreements.
• Ensure compliance with category strategy and internal requirements.

 
About You

Essential:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a procurement leadership or management role.
• Experience working in a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience of managing significant spend and multiple projects.
• Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems.
• Excellent negotiation, problem-solving and stakeholder-management skills.
• Highly accurate with strong attention to detail.

 
Desirable:

• CIPS Level 4+ or relevant equivalent
• Experience in technical manufacturing or food processing environments.
• Project management experience.

 
 If you feel this role aligns with you, we would love to discuss the role and your experience further and look forward to your CV / Application.