Assistant Category Manager

Assistant Category Manager

Salary: £30,000

Location: Derby (Hybrid – 3 days office, 2 days home)

Contract Type: Permanent

Are you looking to develop your career in procurement within a dynamic and fast-paced environment? This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive and detail-oriented individual to join a procurement team and support a range of purchasing activities across the business.

As an Assistant Category Manager, you will play a key role in supporting procurement processes, ensuring compliance with policies and regulations, and delivering value for the organisation. You will assist Category Managers in tendering processes, contract management, and supplier engagement while also taking ownership of low-risk procurement activities.

• Conduct low-risk tenders and quotations for goods, services, and one-off purchases.
• Support Category Managers throughout the procurement cycle, from preparing tender documents to evaluating bids and managing contracts.
• Assist with the administration of procurement exercises to ensure compliance and maintain clear audit trails.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders to provide a professional procurement service and promote best practices.
• Process purchase orders through the financial system, ensuring compliance with procurement policies.
• Maintain accurate records and reports to meet internal and external compliance requirements.
• Manage supplier requests, ensuring policies are adhered to and existing contracts are utilised.
• Oversee the contracts database to ensure validity and identify any contractual breaches.

• Studying or willing to study towards a Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) qualification.
• Experience working in a procurement environment.
• Performance Driven.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced setting without compromising quality.
• Strong teamwork skills and adaptability to business change.
• Experience delivering high-quality customer service.
• Familiarity with governance frameworks and proficiency in ICT systems, including e-procurement systems and Microsoft applications.
• Confidence to challenge processes and suggest improvements.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• A flexible and proactive attitude, with a willingness to take on new challenges.

• Competitive salary.
• Study Support for CIPS.
• Defined benefit pension scheme.
• 32 days’ holiday (rising to 34 after two years).
• Flexible working options.
• Free and discounted travel benefits.
• Career development and training opportunities.
• Access to a range of employee discounts and benefits. 

If you'd like to know more about this position, just hit the apply button and I'll be in touch. You'll find my number on Linked In (Bethan Kirby at Distinct Recruitment). If you prefer, you could drop me a connection or message on Linked In and we can pick up on there.

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