Category Manager

We are seeking a skilled and driven Category Manager to join our Procurement team. In this pivotal role, you will develop global sourcing and supplier management plans for your assigned procurement category, ensuring cost benefits, savings, and security of supply while managing and mitigating risk. You will play a key part in ensuring compliance with business policies and processes and managing requirements throughout the supply chain.

• Identify and define short, medium, and long-term procurement requirements in line with business strategy.
• Source and evaluate suppliers, negotiating and managing contracts to meet business needs.
• Define KPIs and SLAs for suppliers, monitoring performance and implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Lead supplier development initiatives and foster strong partnerships.
• Analyse spend and performance data to identify cost‑saving opportunities and drive continuous improvement.
• Stay abreast of global market developments within your category to maximise business benefits.
• Manage significant and complex supplier contracts, ensuring value and compliance.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and business leaders to deliver sourcing projects and category plans.

• Manage spend for business‑as‑usual and projects in the region of £30m–£60m per annum.
• Support delivery of procurement savings targets of £3m per annum (reviewed annually and aligned to forecast spend).

• CIPS qualified procurement professional.
• At least five years’ procurement experience, including a minimum of two years in a category manager role.
• Demonstrable experience in supplier sourcing, contract negotiation, and supplier management.
• Experience in multinational, corporate, and regulated environments (e.g., utilities, aerospace, pharmaceutical, electronics, engineering, construction).
• Strong understanding of category management principles and integration with other functions.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, persuasion, and influencing skills, with experience in business case development and presentations.
• Proven track record in supplier management and development, including implementing supplier management programmes.
• Experience advising and leading on bid evaluation for supplier selection.
• Ability to drive a lean sourcing culture and support innovative procurement practices.
• International contracts experience and variation control/management.
• In‑depth knowledge of the chemical supply chain market is highly desirable.

• MCIPS/CIPS (Desirable)
• MBA/Business Degree (Desirable)

At present, we are not accepting any candidates via a recruitment agency or third party.

Victrex is an innovative world leader in high‑performance PEEK (Poly Ether Ether Ketone) and PAEK (Poly Aryl Ether Ketone) polymer solutions focusing on the strategic markets of automotive, aerospace, energy and industrial, electronics and medical. Every day, millions of people use products and applications containing our materials – from smartphones, aeroplanes and cars to energy operations and medical devices.

With over 40 years’ experience, we are developing world leading solutions with PEEK and PAEK‑based polymers and selected semi‑finished and finished parts which enable environmental and societal benefit for our customers and our markets and drive value for our shareholders.

At Victrex, we have a clear purpose: to deliver transformational and sustainable solutions that address global material challenges.

Our core values of passion, innovation, and performance are at the heart of everything we do. We are a company that thrives on human‑centred leadership, valuing curiosity, adaptability, and collaboration in a fast‑paced, digitally enabled world. We believe in empowering individuals, rather than seeing barriers to progress.

We are looking for individuals who are comfortable working in an environment that values digital and AI‑driven solutions, who see technology as an enabler rather than a challenge. At Victrex, we foster a culture of continuous learning, agility, and adaptability, where employees are encouraged to embrace new ways of working,…