Head of Category - Direct

We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Head of Category to lead our category management function and deliver sustainable value across our direct spend portfolio.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for developing and executing category strategies that reduce risk, optimise supplier performance, and deliver measurable commercial benefits. You'll lead a team of procurement professionals while partnering with stakeholders across the business to drive continuous improvement, supply chain resilience, and long-term business success.

**Key responsibilities and tasks:**

**Source to Contract (S2C)**

* Lead the development and execution of category strategies that deliver sustainable cost savings, commercial value, and risk reduction
* Guide sourcing and tendering activities (RFx), ensuring robust supplier selection and effective commercial negotiations
* Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships, driving strong performance across quality, cost, delivery, safety and sustainability measures

Oversee contract lifecycle management, ensuring contracts deliver value, remain compliant, and support business objectives

* Identify and mitigate supply chain risks while supporting business continuity and long-term supplier partnerships
* Track, measure and report category performance against agreed savings, value and risk reduction targets

**Requisition to Pay (R2P)**

* Collaborate with Planning, Development, and Purchasing teams to ensure supply and demand requirements are effectively managed
* Ensure category strategies and contractual arrangements support efficient purchasing and transactional processes
* Drive continuous improvement across procurement operations, systems, and data management activities
* Lead the resolution of order management, supply, and master data escalations to support operational performance

**Leadership & Stakeholder Management:**

* Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Category team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
* Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Commercial, Engineering, Finance, Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain functions
* Use market intelligence, data, and business insights to influence decision-making and identify opportunities for value creation
* Champion collaboration, change management, and best practice procurement across the organisation

**Person Specification:**

**Technical**

* Minimum 8 years Category Management leadership experience and performance delivery across the S2C model in Manufacturing or Engineering Services
* Business or Engineering based Qualification. CIPS
* Experience and application of Continuous Improvement methodologies

**Business**

* Advanced Commercial and Contract acumen and experience
* Strong understanding of budgets and finance in a manufacturing environment
* Performance driven utilising data, analytics and insight for decision making

**Systems**

* Systems use and deployment of ERP and S2P solutions
* Computer literate in Microsoft applications (Excel, Word)

**Behavioural**

* A great attitude. Talks with Data. Thinks outcomes.
* Advanced ability to lead, coach, collaborate and communicate at all levels
* Demonstrated stakeholder and change management competency