Senior Category Manager - Marketing

Senior Category Manager - Marketing Location: Milton Keynes - Hybrid

We are recruiting for an extremely exciting and rapidly growing organisation. This newly created role offers an exciting opportunity for a Marketing Category Specialist to join the Commercial team and build and shape the marketing procurement category from the ground up.

As a Marketing Category Specialist, you'll have the opportunity to take ownership of a newly established category, develop commercial strategies and build strong supplier partnerships. This role offers genuine autonomy, senior stakeholder exposure and the chance to make a lasting impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver procurement strategies across marketing spend.
• Manage the full procurement lifecycle, from supplier identification and onboarding through to contract negotiation.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers.
• Identify commercial opportunities, drive efficiencies and deliver cost savings.
• Introduce and improve procurement processes to support business growth.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to understand business needs and deliver effective procurement solutions.

About You

We're looking for an experienced procurement professional with strong category management, strategic sourcing and contract negotiation experience.

You'll ideally have experience within marketing procurement and be comfortable working in a newly established environment where you can build rather than simply maintain.

• Proven experience in procurement/category management, ideally across marketing or professional services.
• Strong experience managing the full sourcing lifecycle, from supplier identification through to contract negotiation.
• Experience developing and implementing category strategies.
• Strong contract negotiation and supplier management experience.
• Commercially focused, with the ability to identify cost savings and value opportunities.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and influencing commercial decisions.
• Comfortable building processes, frameworks and governance from the ground up.
• Strong analytical skills, including Excel and financial modelling.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, changing or newly established environment is highly desirable.
• CIPS Level 5/6 or MCIPS would be advantageous but is not essential.

What's on Offer?

An opportunity to join an exciting, purpose-driven business at a pivotal stage of its development. You'll have the freedom to shape your category, influence key commercial decisions and contribute to a major programme with nationwide impact.

Interested? Apply now to find out more about this exciting opportunity. Or email Abdul.Walid@Robertwalters.com

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates