Category Manager

Posted Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 01:00 Expired Wednesday 26 March 2025 at 00:59

Are you an experienced procurement professional looking to take ownership of high-value procurement categories? Thalia Waste Management is seeking a Category Manager to develop and implement strategic procurement solutions across logistics, raw materials, plant hire, and business services.

With responsibility for a £7.9m spend, this role will play a key part in optimising costs, enhancing supplier performance, and ensuring compliance while supporting Thalia's long-term operational success.

• This is a hybrid role with time spent at our 4 waste treatment sites (Milton Keynes, Cambridge, North Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight) and some spent working remotely.
• 5% bonus, company car / car allowance (£380 per month), up to 6% contributory pension, 24 days annual leave.

Key Responsibilities

Category Management & Strategy Development

• Develop and execute category strategies across key non-engineering areas, including:
  • Plant Hire (£4.1m)
  • Catalogues & E-Procurement (£2.0m)
  • Raw Materials (£1.8m)
  • Indirects (Soft FM, IT, etc.)
• Conduct market research and supplier benchmarking to identify the best-value opportunities.
• Drive cost-saving initiatives and efficiency improvements across procurement activities.

Tendering & Supplier Negotiations

• Lead tenders, supplier evaluations, and contract negotiations to secure competitive agreements.
• Ensure compliance with commercial terms and regulatory requirements.
• Develop supplier agreements that optimise value while maintaining operational flexibility.
• Work closely with operations, finance, and category teams to align procurement with business goals.
• Conduct supplier performance evaluations, ensuring cost-effectiveness and service reliability.
• Oversee supplier onboarding and contract implementation, ensuring transparency and compliance.

What We Are Looking For

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• CIPS qualification (or working towards) preferred.
• Significant experience in procurement within a complex, multi-site organisation.
• Proven track record in optimising supplier contracts and driving cost savings.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong category management and strategic sourcing capabilities.
• Excellent negotiation, supplier management, and contract implementation skills.
• Ability to analyse procurement data and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and project management skills.
• Proactive, commercially driven, and detail-oriented.

Our Business
At Thalia Waste Management, we are creating a future to be proud of. We think differently, questioning everything, enabling us to develop progressive waste into energy solutions and services. Being motivated, tackling problems together, inspiring others to take responsibility, making a difference, being ambitious and contributing value.
We operate the best technology available across our four strategic sites in North Yorkshire, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Wight. Our technology includes everything from mechanical and biological treatment, traditional mass-burn energy from waste and material recycling technologies to in-vessel composting, advanced thermal treatment, innovative small-scale energy from waste and anaerobic digestion. In a single year we process 300,000 tonnes of waste that is turned into energy. This generates the same amount of energy as approximately 600 million solar panels. Similarly we recycle circa 95,000 tonnes of waste.

Inclusion
At Thalia Waste Management, we work hard to make sure we are an inclusive and diverse place to work. This means we don't just look at your CV, we're focused on who you are, your skills and passion that can be brought to Thalia Waste Management. We know and understand that everyone is different and has a life outside work, so we're happy to discuss flexible working and any adjustments that could be needed! We'll do all that we can to support everyone from their first contact with us. For any support or adjustments needed through our recruitment process, please speak to our recruitment team who will be happy to support. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. As a Disability Confident Employer, we will make sure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.