Gleeson Recruitment Group
Procurement Category Manager
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Procurement Category Manager
Derby | Hybrid (2-3 days per week in the office) Up to £55,000 + Excellent Benefits | Permanent | Full Time
Looking for a procurement role where you can genuinely make an impact?
We're working with a growing, highly regulated organisation that is continuing to invest in its procurement and commercial capability. Following significant progress over the last few years, they're now looking to appoint a Group Category Manager who can help take things to the next level.
This isn't an operational buying role.
Instead, we're looking for someone who enjoys building supplier strategies, creating robust governance processes, managing third-party risk, and helping the business become smarter in how it engages with suppliers.
The procurement function has gained significant visibility and support at executive level, and there are ambitious plans to continue growing the team over the coming years. You'll join a collaborative environment where procurement is increasingly seen as a strategic partner to the wider business.
The Opportunity
- Take ownership of category management and supplier governance activities across a varied portfolio of spend.
- The organisation works with hundreds of external suppliers across professional/ corporate services categories.
- Whilst cost and value remain important, the real focus is ensuring suppliers are properly managed, contracts are reviewed, risks are understood, and robust processes are embedded throughout the business.
- Work closely with stakeholders across multiple business units, helping to build engagement and ensure procurement is involved early enough to influence decision-making.
- A new procurement platform has recently been introduced, creating an excellent opportunity to improve visibility, supplier oversight, and reporting. You'll play a key role in ensuring the business adopts best practice and gets maximum value from the investment.
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Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement category and supplier management strategies across group-wide spend areas.
- Lead end-to-end procurement activity including sourcing, tendering, negotiations, and contract management.
- Strengthen supplier relationship management practices and create structured review processes.
- Drive governance, due diligence, and third-party risk management activities.
- Ensure procurement processes align with regulatory and audit requirements.
- Partner with stakeholders to improve supplier engagement, contract visibility, and commercial outcomes.
- Analyse supplier performance, spend, and market data to identify opportunities and mitigate risk.
- Support the ongoing development and adoption of procurement systems and processes.
- Influence stakeholders to follow best practice procurement and supplier management principles.
What We're Looking For
We're keen to speak with experienced procurement professionals who understand that great procurement is about far more than placing orders or running tenders.
You'll ideally bring:
- Proven experience in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Procurement.
- Strong supplier relationship and contract management experience.
- Experience building category strategies and governance frameworks.
- A structured approach to supplier reviews, performance management, and stakeholder engagement.
- Strong understanding of third-party risk, due diligence, and supplier governance.
- Confidence influencing stakeholders across different business functions.
- Experience working within regulated or highly governed environments would be advantageous.
- Strong commercial awareness alongside a collaborative and relationship-driven approach.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
You'll be naturally curious, commercially minded, and comfortable balancing governance requirements with practical business needs.
Most importantly, you'll enjoy building relationships, driving positive change, and helping create a procurement function that is recognised as a trusted business partner.
What's On Offer?
- Salary up to £55,000
- Hybrid working (2-3 days per week in Derby)
- On-site parking
- Private Medical Insurance
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Category Manager or Procurement Manager looking to move into a broader, more strategic role where supplier governance, risk management, and relationship building are just as important as commercial delivery.
To apply for the Group Category Manager position, please click on the apply now button and your CV will be sent directly to the responsible recruiter. We will respond to successful applicants within 7 days, however please feel free to get in touch if you would like any further information about your application.
At Gleeson Recruitment Group, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be a disability confident employer.
By applying, you will be registered as a candidate with Gleeson Recruitment Limited. Our Privacy Policy is available on our website and explains how we will use your data.
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