Category Manager

Committed to maintaining trains and trams, our mission is to enhance vehicle safety and reliability. Our ultimate goal is to deliver a comfortable, dependable, and sustainable commuting experience for all passengers.

Based out of multiple locations across the UK, our 24/7 operation means we’re always on hand to deliver reliable technical support. Utilising the latest digital technology, we strive to enhance dependability, helping people to get to where they need to be!

We wouldn’t be where we are without our people. Working together as a team, we strive to achieve great things while supporting each other to thrive along the way. We’re going places, so apply today and become part of our exciting journey.

The role of Category Manager is responsible for managing purchasing categories at the UK level. This role requires close collaboration with the central Category Manager and the local Purchasing Manager to define and implement effective procurement strategies. The role supports and leads negotiations, manages supplier relationships, and ensures compliance with rail industry standards and expectations. This includes implementing contracts, Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and leading supplier performance initiatives. The role also includes providing procurement support for our UK projects, staff management, and the organisation and categorisation business expenditure to ensure that efficient purchasing practice, supplier selection and performance are implemented.

Your daily duties will include:

Manage purchasing categories across the UK, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
Define and implement local category strategies in coordination with central Category Manager and local Purchasing Manager.
Deploy and execute both local and centrally defined procurement strategies and initiatives.
Manage relationships with strategic and local suppliers to ensure quality, cost efficiency, and performance.
Support negotiations with strategic suppliers and lead negotiations with local suppliers.
Play a pivotal role in supplier performance management and continuous improvement initiatives.
Conduct and lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with key suppliers.
Participate in supplier audits and evaluations in line with rail industry compliance standards.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of rail industry procurement standards, regulatory requirements, and market trends.
Manage a category buyer to ensure adequate stock availability and replenishment of all line items.
Ensure that internal materials and services requests are allocated and processed in a timely manner.
Liaise regularly with the Demand Manager UK and local Project Material Managers to identify component usage trends and to mitigate risk to fleet availability and reliability.
Collaborate with the Central Category Management based in Spain to ensure the supply base is optimised, efficient and provides best value.

What will make you successful in this position?

CIPS Qualified to Level 5 is preferred
Proven experience in category management and strategic sourcing, ideally within the rail or transportation sector.
Strong negotiation, contract management, and supplier relationship skills.
Knowledge of UK procurement regulations and rail industry standards.
Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
Experience with procurement software and ERP systems (e.g SAP).

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