Global Category Manager - Indirect Procurement
Overview
Global Category Managers - Indirect Procurement (3 Roles)
Location: Remote - UK, Europe or North America Morgan Advanced Materials is investing in the future of its global procurement function and we're looking for three experienced Global Category Managers to help shape it.We're a business with a long history of solving complex engineering challenges through advanced materials. Founded in the UK in 1856, today we operate across 70 sites in 18 countries, supporting customers around the world through innovation in ceramic and carbon technologies.As part of our growing global procurement team, you'll take ownership of a major indirect spend category, partnering with senior stakeholders across multiple regions to drive value, manage risk and build strong supplier partnerships. This isn't a role for someone who simply runs sourcing events. We're looking for procurement professionals who can develop strategy, influence stakeholders and deliver meaningful commercial outcomes on a global scale. We're hiring across three specialist category areas:
-
IT & Professional Services (also acting as HQ Procurement Business Partner)
- Logistics & Packaging
- Utilities, Travel & Fleet
Reporting into the Head of Indirect Procurement (initially reporting to the Procurement Project Lead), you'll manage global and multi-regional category strategies across spend portfolios ranging from £40m to £80m. The Role
You'll be responsible for developing and delivering category strategies that improve total cost of ownership, strengthen supplier performance and support broader business objectives.Working across a complex international organisation, you'll partner with stakeholders at all levels, lead sourcing initiatives, manage strategic suppliers and help embed best-practice procurement across the business.Depending on your specialist category area, you'll influence procurement activity across Europe, North America and other global regions. Responsibilities
What You'll Do
- Lead the development and execution of global category strategies aligned to business goals
- Build and implement supplier relationship management (SRM) strategies for key suppliers
- Deliver global and multi-regional sourcing programmes from strategy through to implementation
- Drive cost reduction, value creation and continuous improvement initiatives
- Partner with senior stakeholders to challenge demand, influence specifications and improve commercial outcomes
- Manage supplier, commercial and operational risks across your category portfolio
- Lead cross-functional sourcing and category teams across multiple regions
- Negotiate complex global agreements and supplier partnerships
- Promote procurement best practice and support wider procurement transformation initiatives
- Support capability development, integration projects and other strategic business activities
- Lead and develop direct reports where applicable
Qualifications
What You'll Bring
For all roles you'll need:
- 8-10+ years' experience in strategic sourcing, category management and supplier relationship management
- Proven success managing significant indirect spend within complex global organisations
- Experience leading large-scale sourcing, transformation or change programmes
- Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills
- Advanced stakeholder management experience across matrix organisations
- Experience influencing senior leaders and driving change across multiple regions
- Strong analytical skills and a solutions-focused mindset
- Familiarity with procurement systems, spend analytics, eSourcing and contract management tools
- Exposure to AI-enabled procurement tools would be an advantage
Category-specific expertise:
IT & Professional Services
- Several years' experience managing global IT and professional services categories
- Experience operating across large, geographically dispersed organisations
- Ability to partner closely with corporate and head office stake