Category Specialist

Salary: £44k / £22.96ph

Location: Yeovil - Hybrid - 1 day per week in the office

Contract: 12 months, starting early December

Gi Group is working in partnership with a leading organisation within the aerospace manufacturing industry to recruit a Category Specialist for a 12-months contract starting and the beginning of December,

As Category Specialist, you will be responsible for managing the Rubber, Seals & Chemicals category, supporting manufacturing operations and global fleet support activities. You will work closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers across multiple countries to deliver effective procurement strategies and sustainable commercial outcomes.

THE ROLE

Key responsibilities for the Category Specialist will include:

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned with business objectives, operational requirements and long-term procurement plans.
• Manage relationships with key suppliers, including contract negotiations, pricing agreements, contract renewals and performance reviews.
• Lead commercial negotiations for long-term agreements, ensuring competitive pricing, contractual compliance and reliable supply.
• Manage strategic sourcing activities, including supplier identification, evaluation, qualification, selection and onboarding.
• Lead competitive tendering exercises and supplier sourcing projects to improve supply chain resilience and cost competitiveness.
• Analyse supplier proposals, market conditions and commercial data to make informed sourcing recommendations.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, value improvement, process optimisation and supply chain risk mitigation.
• Monitor supplier performance and work with suppliers to address issues, improve service levels and support continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Operations and Procurement teams.
• Support new product introduction programmes and the qualification of new suppliers where required.
• Monitor market trends, supplier capabilities and industry developments to inform category strategies and procurement decisions.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, governance requirements and contractual obligations.
• Provide guidance and support to procurement teams across the UK, Italy, Poland, the USA and Switzerland, ensuring alignment with sourcing strategies and approved supplier panels.

 THE CANDIDATE:

We are looking for a commercially minded procurement professional with experience in category management, strategic sourcing or supplier management within a manufacturing environment.

You will have strong negotiation skills, the ability to manage complex supplier relationships and the confidence to influence stakeholders.

To be successful in this role, you will ideally have:

• Experience working within manufacturing, or another technically complex industry.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience negotiating supplier contracts and long-term agreements.
• A track record of managing supplier relationships and driving improvements in cost, quality, delivery and performance.
• Strong analytical, communication, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing contractual agreements, supplier performance and procurement risks.
• Experience within aerospace, defence, automotive or industrial manufacturing would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of rubber products, seals, gaskets, O-rings, elastomeric components, plastics or chemicals would be highly desirable.

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