Category Manager

Are you an ambitious, commercially minded procurement professional who thrives on driving change and building high-performing supply chains? 

We’re looking for a Category Manager to play a key role in our Procurement & Supply Chain transformation journey. This is a high-impact opportunity for someone with a strong “can-do” mindset, who enjoys improving how things work, challenging the status quo and delivering tangible value through smarter sourcing and supplier partnerships. 

You’ll join a function recognised as a critical enabler of our corporate strategy, with a clear mandate to create a strategic, innovative and best-in-class procurement operation. 

The role 

As Category Manager, you will take ownership of key spend categories, shaping multi-year strategies that drive cost efficiency, resilience, sustainability and service excellence. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Leading end-to-end tendering, negotiation and contract award processes across your categories 

• Delivering annual savings targets while improving supplier quality and delivery performance 

• Developing and executing category strategies to reduce cost, mitigate risk and drive innovation 

• Managing sustainability requirements, including support of SBTi targets 

• Building strong stakeholder relationships while ensuring compliance with procurement processes and systems 

You’ll have genuine scope to influence how procurement operates, with visibility across the organisation and the opportunity to leave a lasting impact. 

What do I need to be successful? 

• 5+ years’ experience in strategic procurement within a category management model, ideally degree educated (CIPS desirable) 

• Proven experience running complex, multi-stakeholder tenders with strong commercial and quality evaluation 

• Strong negotiation skills and confidence influencing within matrix organisations 

• A proactive, resilient, improvement-focused mindset with a clear ambition to drive change 

• Knowledge of logistics and supply chain operations, with waste industry experience highly beneficial 

Why join? 

• A pivotal role in a business-wide procurement transformation programme 

• Real autonomy to shape strategy and drive meaningful operational and commercial improvements 

• Exposure to senior stakeholders and complex, high-value categories 

• Long-term career development within a major, purpose-driven organisation 

• Supportive, inclusive culture that values fresh thinking and continuous improvement 

Biffa – we’re changing the way people think about waste 

At Biffa, we love working with waste. Whether we’re turning it into sustainable power, finding new ways to recycle it or simply keeping it off the streets, we believe every day is an opportunity to improve the lives of millions. It’s a view that’s shared by our 11,000+ people around the country, who trust us to provide them with a career that’s always rewarding, often challenging, but never dull.  

We believe different ideas, perspective and backgrounds are key to developing a creative and effective working environment which is why you’ll find us championing diversity and equality at every turn.