Category Manager

Manchester, Lancashire
Robert Walters UK

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Category Manager to join a highly respected organisation in Liverpool, supporting the ongoing success of its operations through the development and implementation of sustainable, value-driven supply chain strategies. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on building strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, enjoys collaborating across teams, and is passionate about delivering results that drive business performance.

The ideal person will play a pivotal part in embedding supplier relationship management practices, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, and contributing to the creation of resilient procurement solutions. The organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where your experience and interpersonal skills are truly valued, offering you the chance to make a meaningful impact while enjoying flexible working opportunities and continuous professional development.

• Play a key role in shaping and executing category plans that deliver optimum value for money across the business, working closely with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Enjoy a collaborative culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard and respected as you help drive forward organisational goals.
• Benefit from flexible working opportunities and access to ongoing training designed to support your personal growth and career progression within a supportive team environment.

What you’ll do:

As a Category Manager, you will be instrumental in driving forward the organisation’s supply chain ambitions by developing robust category plans that underpin operational excellence. Your day-to-day responsibilities will see you engaging with key stakeholders ranging from executive leadership to life cycle suppliers to ensure alignment between business strategy and procurement activity. You will be responsible for managing supplier relationships with care and diligence, always seeking opportunities for continuous improvement while safeguarding compliance with relevant regulations. By producing insightful data dashboards and supporting market analysis efforts, you will enable informed decision-making at every stage of the procurement process. Your expertise will also be called upon to provide guidance on complex commercial issues, helping teams navigate challenges collaboratively. Success in this role means not only delivering value through effective contract management but also nurturing an inclusive environment where teamwork flourishes.

• Support the development of comprehensive category plans and strategic supply initiatives that span functional and organisational boundaries to ensure maximum value for money.
• Engage proactively with stakeholders at all levels to align business strategy and policy with the successful delivery of category objectives.
• Ensure full legal and regulatory compliance, including adherence to Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, while maintaining high standards of contractual governance.
• Proactively manage supplier performance across a diverse portfolio of contracts and agreements, reducing risk exposure for the organisation.
• Act as a trusted point of contact within your category, providing expert advice and support to colleagues on procurement matters.
• Deliver procurement, project, and administrative support across the group, ensuring seamless execution of supply chain activities.
• Collaborate closely with sourcing teams to guarantee compliant procurement processes that meet commercial requirements.
• Produce and maintain accurate category data dashboards, supporting robust analysis of business needs, market trends, and contract strategies.
• Lead the creation, quality assurance, evaluation, award, and implementation of contracts or framework agreements to secure best-in-class outcomes.
• Maintain effective management of contracts or framework agreements throughout their lifecycle, ensuring ongoing value delivery.

What you bring:

To excel as a Category Manager in this organisation, you will bring a wealth of experience gained from regulated procurement environments where collaboration is key. Your background should include hands-on involvement in developing category strategies that span multiple supplier groups while maintaining rigorous standards for compliance. You are adept at forging connections with stakeholders at all levels, listeningl carefully to their needs before offering thoughtful guidance rooted in best practice. Your approach is grounded in empathy; you understand how important it is to nurture positive supplier relationships that yield long-term benefits for all parties involved. Above all else, your commitment to fairness, respect for diversity, and dedication to continuous learning set you apart as someone who can make a lasting contribution.

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of regulated procurement processes, particularly in delivering strategies across multiple supplier categories within complex environments.
• A proven track record of working collaboratively within high-performing teams to achieve shared objectives while supporting individual growth.
• Experience in delivering innovative procurement solutions that drive measurable improvements in value delivery.
• The ability to build rapport with senior-level stakeholders and influence decision-making through clear communication and mutual respect.
• Strong understanding of supplier relationship management methods with practical application for continuous improvement initiatives.
• Expertise in drafting and implementing procurement policies as well as governance models that ensure transparency and accountability.
• Excellent analytical skills with experience producing actionable insights from category data dashboards or similar tools.
• A commitment to upholding legal, regulatory, and commercial compliance standards at all times within procurement activities.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills that foster trust-based relationships both internally among colleagues and externally with suppliers or partners.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates

About the job

Contract Type: Permanent

Specialism: Procurement & Supply Chain

Focus: Purchasing / Procurement

Industry: Purchasing and Procurement

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Experience Level: Mid Management

Location: Liverpool

Contract Type: Permanent

Specialism: Procurement & Supply Chain

Focus: Purchasing / Procurement

Industry: Purchasing and Procurement

Salary: pension/healthcare/holidays

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Experience Level: Mid Management

Location: Liverpool

FULL_TIME

Job Reference: IAEDFU-B2201DB3

Date posted: 21 August 2025

Consultant: Richard Jones

northern-west procurement-supply-chain/purchasing-procurement 2025-08 10-20 purchasing-and-procurement Liverpool Merseyside GB Robert Walters true