Group Strategic Sourcing Category Manager

Oxinst; High Wycombe; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global business seeks a Group Strategic Sourcing Category Manager to develop sourcing strategies for Metals & Plastics. This hybrid role involves managing supplier relationships, driving cost improvement, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate should have extensive procurement experience and strong negotiation skills. Join a dynamic environment focused on innovation and value creation across UK sites, including High Wycombe, Bristol, and Belfast.

Qualifications

• Extensive procurement experience in technical categories like Metals & Plastics.
• Strong market dynamics understanding and supplier strategy development.
• Proven success in NPI and supplier development projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category sourcing strategies aligned with Group objectives.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance.
• Lead cost improvement projects and value engineering.

Skills

Procurement experience

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Market dynamics understanding

Education

Degree educated

MCIPS preferred

Job description

Group Strategic Sourcing Category Manager

Location: High Wycombe, GB Bristol, GB, BS35 4GG

Job Function: Business

Business Unit: OI plc

At Oxford Instruments, we enable the world’s leading industrial companies and scientific research communities to image, analyse and manipulate materials down to the atomic and molecular level. With a sixty-year history, and fourteen Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, our world‑class products and technologies are helping our customers to address the greatest challenges of the 21st century.

Are you an experienced procurement professional looking for a strategic role in a global business? Oxford Instruments is seeking a Group Strategic Sourcing Category Manager to lead sourcing strategies for Metals & Plastics across our Group.

The Role

Reporting to the Group Strategic Sourcing Director, you’ll shape and deliver category strategies that reduce cost and risk while enhancing quality, service, and sustainability. You’ll manage key supplier relationships, negotiate commercial agreements, and lead cross‑functional projects with stakeholders in Operations, Engineering, Finance, and Supply Chain. This role is pivotal in driving value through initiatives such as NPI engagement, design‑to‑cost activities, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category sourcing strategies aligned with Group objectives.
• Own supplier relationships, performance management, and long‑term agreements.
• Lead cost improvement projects and value engineering activities.
• Collaborate with Engineering on early supplier involvement for NPI.
• Monitor supplier KPIs and maintain the Approved Vendor List.
• Ensure compliance with sourcing policies and governance processes.

About You

• Extensive procurement experience in technical categories, ideally Metals & Plastics.
• Strong understanding of market dynamics and supplier strategy development.
• Proven success in NPI, cost improvement, and supplier development projects.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Degree educated; MCIPS preferred but not essential.

This role is hybrid and can be based at any of our UK based sites: High Wycombe, Bristol, or Belfast.

Why Join Us?

This is a high‑impact role offering the chance to shape sourcing strategies across a global business, working with cutting‑edge technologies and a collaborative team. You’ll have the autonomy to deliver meaningful change and unlock value for the organisation.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.

Note to recruitment agencies: Oxford Instruments operates a Preferred Supplier List, and we do not accept unsolicited agency CVs. Please do not forward candidate details in response to this advert, or to any Oxford Instruments employees or other company locations. Oxford Instruments is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.