Job Description

Category Manager
50,000-55,000 | Hybrid | Clear Progression Path
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
(Easily commutable from Luton, Royston, Bedford)
Working pattern: Hybrid - 3-4 days onsite
Travel: Monthly to Germany
Shape a category. Build your career. Make an impact.
Are you ready for a role where you can own a category, challenge suppliers, and make an impact?
We're looking for a high-energy Category Buyer to take ownership of a strategically important materials category and deliver visible impact across a long established 150million turnover business. UK and European operations.
This is an opportunity to grow toward senior leadership.
The role of the Category Manager
You will manage a c20m+ annual materials category, spanning around 15 suppliers in the UK and one major German partner. The category includes:

• Construction connectors
• Sheeting and boards
• Adhesives and building materials
• Engineered fixings

You'll work closely with UK manufacturing teams, the European procurement team, and suppliers in Germany to strengthen relationships, drive savings, and secure supply.

• Develop and execute category plans that deliver value and mitigate risk
• Lead supplier negotiations and manage supplier performance
• Analyse cost structures and drive total cost of ownership improvements
• Challenge historic ways of working and introduce improved metrics and reporting
• Identify alternative sourcing options and maintain up-to-date supplier intelligence
• Collaborate with manufacturing, technical, operations, supply chain, and finance teams
• Raise procurement capability across the business
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and sustainable procurement reporting
• Drive waste elimination, drive sustainability and continuous improvement initiatives

The Ideal Category Manager

• 3+ years in a procurement or category management role
• Experience in managing strategic suppliers
• Strong negotiation skills and confidence to challenge suppliers
• High energy, proactive mindset, and ability to drive change
• Manufacturing or supply chain experience
• Experience working with German suppliers is advantageous but not essential
• Willingness to travel monthly to Germany

We want someone who is hungry to make an impact and ready to grow quickly into a senior leadership role.

Skills Required