Procurement Category Manager
Location:
Bolton
Function:
Strategic Change
Job Reference:
8786
Employment Type:
Closing Date:
Date:
2 Sept 2026
The Recipe
To develop and deliver category plans for the relevant indirect services spend categories that drive value in materials and services pricing, whilst supporting Warburtons quality, service and cost objectives whilst reducing supplier risk.
Key Accountabilities and Measures
Category Management:
- To develop and implement category sourcing strategies in conjunction with Senior Procurement Manager and with key stakeholders across identified indirect material categories.
- Negotiate and implement contracts.
Workstream Management:
- To develop and deliver workstreams in conjunction with key stakeholders
- Complete market reviews using the e sourcing system where appropriate
- Ensure accurate workstream reporting for all managed categories.
Stakeholder Management:
- To partner with key stakeholders in the managed categories to ensure supplier contracts are in place and being effectively managed.
Supplier Relationship Management:
- Manage and review agreed supplier KPIs to enable the assessment of current performance.
- Development of continuous improvement plans with suppliers.
- Development of supplier risk plans
Forecasting and Budget Management:
- Support budgeting and re-forecasting for relevant indirect spend categories in conjunction with the relevant sites and departments.
Contract & Risk Management:
- To manage the governance process for the defined categories including
- Development and maintenance of relevant service and/or goods agreements.
- Identifying and managing supply chain risks.
Innovation:
- Support the business innovation process for relevant categories / suppliers.
Sustainability:
- To ensure ethical action plans are in place for relevant suppliers as appropriate
Essential Ingredients
- Purchasing experience, at a buyer level, preferably in a food manufacturing or FMCG business,
- Full or part qualification in CIPS (desirable)
- Commercial Skills - Demonstrates a good understanding of the customer and their requirements / constraints
- Communicating skills – Articulate, has good communication skills and a helpful attitude. Develops effective, long-term relationships with key people.
- Influencing & negotiating skills – develops persuasive arguments/demonstrates flexibility in influencing style. Able to influence peers and senior stakeholders.
- Analysing and problem solving skills – Asks probing questions, is inquisitive. Is meticulous – has a good eye for detail. Analyses and interprets information effectively.
- Time & project management skills – Prioritises and manages own workload to ensure tasks are delivered as promised. Works in a systematic and organised manner.
- Decision making skills – Makes effective decisions in conjunction with key stakeholders.
- Strategy and Risk Management skills – Identifies medium to long issues, which are commercially important to the category. Able to deliver category risk mitigation plans.
- Agility / Flexibility – adapting to changing environments, new categories and challenges.
Extra Dough
At last and by no means least you will want to know what your breads worth.
- A slice of the annual profits (discretionary profit share)
- Family time is important to us so as well as your holiday entitlement, we'll give you the opportunity to purchase up to an extra weeks annual leave
- Award winning pension scheme with company contributions up to 7%
- Private medical insurance and life assurance
- Products you will love along with deals and discounts for you and the family through our Extra Dough website
- Continued investment in your personal development
- Fully stocked kitchens filled with our delicious products for you to enjoy with your daily brew!
- Support for your health and wellbeing, including access to free physiotherapy, 24/7 access to a confidential helpline for practical advice and a comprehensive occupational health service