Skills

Negotiation Autonomy

Job Specifications

Hybrid | Car Allowance | Regional Role

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. 

About the Company

Founded in London in 1912, Biffa is a leading UK nationwide integrated waste management business providing collection, treatment, recycling and technologically-driven energy generation services. Through the expertise of our people and investment in technology we promote and deliver sustainable waste management solutions. We provide an essential service to satisfy the business needs of our commercial, industrial and public sector customers throughout the UK, and help them to meet their legal obligations and corporate respons... Know more