Procurement Category Manager

A large food manufacturer are seeking an experienced Procurement Category Manager to join their procurement team. This role is looking after packaging, raw material and direct consumables and the chance to lead sourcing activity that protects service levels, strengthens supplier performance, and delivers measurable savings. 

What You Will Do:

- Own the commercial and operational performance for Direct Spend category areas, including packaging and ingredients as a Procurement Category Manager.

- Develop and maintain category plans by analysing spend, supplier performance, pricing trends and market conditions.

- Lead sourcing activities such as RFQs, tenders, supplier evaluations and commercial negotiations for the Procurement Category Manager portfolio.

- Deliver savings, cost avoidance and supplier consolidation opportunities, ensuring recommendations balance cost, quality, service, risk and operational needs.

- Manage key supplier relationships, run supplier review meetings, and drive improvement actions against agreed KPIs.

- Coach and support two Buyers, allocate workload, review outputs, and act as the escalation point for operational buying issues.

What You Will Bring:

- Strong procurement and/or category management experience, ideally with direct spend such as packaging, ingredients, raw materials or comparable categories within food manufacturing or FMCG.

- CIPS qualification (preferred) or the confidence to work towards it, combined with strong contract terms and conditions knowledge.

- Proven analytical ability, including advanced Excel experience for spend analysis, cost comparisons and decision support.

- Commercial awareness and confidence leading negotiations across pricing, payment terms, service levels and supplier agreements.

- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, plus the ability to work independently, proactively and under pressure.

This Procurement Category Manager position plays a vital part in supporting the company's focus on procurement performance across Avara Foods. By turning demand into clear sourcing plans, maintaining robust supplier relationships, and ensuring procurement activity follows policy and approval processes, you will help strengthen continuity of supply and reduce commercial risk across direct material spend.

Location:

Based at Near Brackley, with travel to other sites and suppliers as required for the Procurement Category Manager role.

Interested?:

If you are motivated by negotiation, supplier performance and category ownership, apply now for this Procurement Category Manager opportunity and take the next step in an exciting, impact-driven procurement career.

Your CV will be forwarded to Jonathan Lee Recruitment, a leading engineering and manufacturing recruitment consultancy established in 1978. The services advertised by Jonathan Lee Recruitment are those of an Employment Agency.

In order for your CV to be processed effectively, please ensure your name, email address, phone number and location (post code OR town OR county, as a minimum) are included