The Role
Lead category strategy and procurement for Fleet, delivering category plans, managing tenders under PA23, supplier performance, contractual agreements, procurement governance, stakeholder engagement (Finance, IT, DFTO), and sustainability improvements to secure commercial and operational value for WM Trains.
Summary Generated by Built In
We are seeking a Senior Category Manager to lead the category strategy across Fleet.
You will guide colleagues through change, build capability, and support effective engagement with Finance, IT, and the DFTO.
This role leads impactful tendering activity under PA23 regulations, securing real commercial and operational gains for WM Trains.
You will guide colleagues through change, build capability, and support effective engagement with Finance, IT, and the DFTO.
This role leads impactful tendering activity under PA23 regulations, securing real commercial and operational gains for WM Trains.
You’ll champion high‑quality procurement governance and help shape how the organisation delivers its strategic contracting ambitions.
Key Responsibilities
- Be the procurement expert for the assigned category of Fleet, ensuring full delivery of the Category Plan and all related contracts.
- Lead procurement strategies with full stakeholder engagement, developing frameworks where needed and ensuring alignment with policies and processes.
- Develop fit‑for‑purpose contractual agreements, manage supplier performance, and uphold compliance with UK laws and industry standards.
- Maintain strong procurement governance, approve POs where applicable, and support sustainability commitments including ISO20400 improvements.
- Lead stakeholder engagement, work with DFTO on key approvals, and contribute to group sourcing strategies to secure best value for WM Trains.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Degree‑level education or equivalent experience, with MCIPS achieved or a willingness to work towards it
- Experienced in Category Management, ideally with rail experience.
- Advanced analytical ability, confidence with spend data, and strong ICT skills including e‑procurement and Microsoft tools.
- Strong negotiation and commercial skills, able to run full procurement cycles independently and maintain high‑quality documentation.
- Excellent communicator who works well with diverse stakeholders, adapts to change, thinks creatively, and operates flexibly.
Due to the volume of applications we receive, the advert may close earlier than the published closing date. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
To ensure continuity and an effective delivery of service, successful candidates will be required to commit to a minimum 14-month period in role after achieving competence. This also includes existing colleagues who move by internal promotions and transfers. This time allows our future colleagues to support personal career development by allowing time to build strong knowledge and expertise.
Benefits
- Salary of up to £65,000 dependent on experience.
- A defined benefit pension from day 1 – one of the best in the UK.
- Free travel on all London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway services for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
- 75% off all other train operating companies for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
- 8 Friends and Family Day passes to gift per annum on our network.
- A 24/7 Virtual GP service for you and your household.
- Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)- A confidential employee benefit that supports you with personal or work-related issues affecting your home life, work life, health, or wellbeing
- Our cycle to work scheme with Evans Cycles.
- A retail discount portal- offering savings, discounts and cashback at over 800 retailers and restaurants.
About
London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway operate rail services across the Midlands, the Northwest and London, with Birmingham at the heart of our network. West Midlands Railway provides most of the local services across the region, offering direct connections to towns and cities including Redditch, Stratford‑upon‑Avon, Worcester, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Telford and Northampton. Our London Northwestern Railway brand serves the route between London and Liverpool via key locations such as Crewe, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Northampton. On 1st February 2026, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway entered public ownership and both services are now part of WM Trains Limited operated by DFTO. Our mission remains unchanged: to provide a safe, comfortable and reliable service for passengers across 235 miles of track and 150 stations, from London to Liverpool and Hereford to Lichfield. We expect over 80 million journeys to be made this year, that’s more than 1,252 services every day, and we remain committed to delivering the rail experience our passengers expect.
Skills Required
- Degree-level education or equivalent experience
- MCIPS achieved or willingness to work towards MCIPS
- Proven experience in Category Management
- Rail sector experience
- Advanced analytical ability and confidence working with spend data
- Strong ICT skills including e-procurement systems and Microsoft Office
- Strong negotiation and commercial skills; ability to run full procurement cycles independently
- Experience developing contractual agreements, managing supplier performance, and maintaining high-quality documentation
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Knowledge of UK procurement law and PA23 regulations
- Commitment to a minimum 14-month period in role after achieving competence
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The Company
What We Do
WM Trains Limited, operating as West Midlands Trains, is a British state-owned train operating company. It runs commuter and local services across the West Midlands and on the West Coast Main Line, connecting London, the Midlands, and the North West.
