Senior Buyer - Indirect Procurement - Category Manager

Senior Buyer / Category Manager position with a well-established manufacturing business in Manchester, offering a salary of 60,000 - 65,000 plus bonus and a hybrid working arrangement.

Client Details

This role is within the FMCG industry and is based in Manchester.

We're seeking a commercially astute Indirect Procurement / Senior Buyer / Category Manager to join a growing procurement function, driving strategic sourcing initiatives across a diverse range of indirect categories. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining strategic category management with stakeholder engagement, supplier development, and delivering measurable business value.

Working in a hybrid environment, you'll partner with manufacturing sites and business functions across multiple locations to optimise spend, mitigate risk, and support operational excellence.

Description

As Senior Buyer / Category Manager, you will develop and execute sourcing strategies across a broad indirect spend portfolio, including:

• MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Operations)
• Engineering Services
• Facilities Management
• Utilities
• Site Services
• PPE
• Professional Services
• Waste Management
• Other indirect expenditure categories

You will play a key role in delivering cost optimisation, supplier performance improvements, contract governance, sustainability objectives, and long-term procurement value.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing projects, tenders, RFQs and negotiations.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimisation and efficiency improvements.
• Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles when evaluating suppliers and procurement solutions.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with company policies, governance standards and delegated authorities.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain effective supplier partnerships.
• Negotiate robust commercial agreements and contracts.
• Drive supplier performance, service improvements and innovation.
• Manage supplier risk, business continuity and contractual compliance.
• Support responsible sourcing and ESG objectives across the supply base.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with operational, engineering, manufacturing and corporate stakeholders.
• Understand business requirements and translate them into procurement strategies.
• Influence decision-making and provide commercial procurement expertise.
• Collaborate across functions to deliver procurement and operational objectives.

Cost & Value Delivery

• Deliver validated savings and cost avoidance initiatives.
• Support annual budgeting and spend forecasting processes.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation and specification improvements.
• Track and report procurement benefits and performance metrics.

Market Analysis & Reporting

• Monitor market trends and supplier developments.
• Analyse spend data and procurement performance.
• Maintain accurate supplier, contract and sourcing records.
• Provide regular reporting and procurement insights to leadership teams.

Profile

We're looking for a proactive procurement professional who combines strong commercial acumen with excellent stakeholder management skills.

Essential Experience

• Minimum 4 years' experience within Indirect Procurement, Strategic Sourcing or Category Management.
• Experience within a manufacturing, FMCG, industrial or engineering environment.
• Proven track record delivering savings and procurement value.
• Experience managing indirect spend categories and supplier relationships.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Experience leading tender and RFQ processes from inception through to implementation.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Commercially minded with excellent analytical capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Proactive and self-motivated approach.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Resilient, adaptable and solutions-focused.
• Passion for continuous improvement and supplier innovation

Job Offer

• Competitive salary of c 60,000 - 65,000 + Bonus
• Hybrid working model
• Opportunity to influence procurement strategy across multiple sites
• Exposure to a substantial indirect spend portfolio
• Career development within a dynamic manufacturing environment that is growing the team
• Collaborative and supportive leadership team

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in exploring, I'd be delighted to share more information and discuss the opportunity in confidence. If you're interested in this role, apply now

Please only apply if you have indirect procurement experience and live in the Manchester / North West area