Category Manager – Strategic Sourcing
Hitachi
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: London • 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Visit company websiteSalary
💰 £60,000 - £65,000 per year
Job Level
Mid-LevelSenior
About the role
- Join Us as a Category Manager – Strategic Sourcing UK.
- Develop short-, medium-, and long-term procurement strategies that deliver real value—optimizing costs, driving innovation, and strengthening supplier partnerships.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to prioritize projects and resources for maximum impact.
- Own the category planning cycle for a portfolio of spend categories to deliver in-year and long term commercial targets aligned to business operating plans.
- Execute category management strategies to achieve competitive advantage through cost reduction, quality, compliance, sustainability, risk mitigation and innovation from existing and new suppliers.
- Ensure financial targets for all spend categories are achieved within the portfolio.
- Identify strategic suppliers and partners through segmentation of spend on the basis of risk, criticality and volume of spend allocating time to areas that derive value.
- Establish roles and responsibilities for supplier governance to improve the alignment of supplier agreements with business partner objectives.
- Undertake contract reviews of existing agreements and exploit opportunities to make in-contract life savings.
- Manage the performance of direct reports conducting regular 1:1 meetings, coaching and mentoring personal development, and provide constructive feedback through appraisals.
Requirements
- Experienced procurement practitioner with the knowledge of strategic sourcing, category management processes and supplier management tools and techniques
- Excellent communication and relationship building skills to be able to negotiate directly with suppliers for all contract provisions
- Strong analytical skills and action focussed to capitalise on identified opportunities
- Robust understanding of Contract law and contract drafting for different types of Product / Services
- Appreciation of cost saving methodologies such as should-be cost modelling, value engineering, and logistics optimisation
- Strong commercial acumen and data presentation skills with an ability to influence and persuade stakeholders
- Strong work ethic, highly motivated and able to work with minimum supervision
- Takes commitment seriously and does what they say they will do whilst holding others to account.
- Strong influencing, networking and team working skill.
- Experience and understanding of Contract Lifecycle Management tools
- Educated to degree level (desirable)
- Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) or appropriate professional institute or relevant experience.
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- 25 days holiday
- Pension scheme with contributions up to 9%
- Private medical insurance
- Personal Accident insurance
- Group Income protection
- Group Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Programme
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
strategic sourcingcategory managementsupplier managementcontract lawcontract draftingcost saving methodologiesshould-be cost modellingvalue engineeringlogistics optimisationdata presentation
Soft skills
communication skillsrelationship buildingnegotiationanalytical skillscommercial acumeninfluencingnetworkingteam workingcoachingmentoring
Certifications
degreeChartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)