Category Buyer

Working in the Procurement Department for a high-growth global £200m+ revenue business with manufacturing operations within the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, France, and Germany supplying international clients. Our solutions-focused manufacturing offers a whole range of products designed to simplify complex infrastructure projects.

Our market-leading brands, Cubis Systems, NAL, and FILOform, supply smart, safe, and sustainable product solutions to a range of construction sectors. Through innovation, we enable construction partners to optimise efficiency and safety through pioneering products designed for simplicity, speed, and reliability.

We stand together to reinvent the way our world is built through collaboration on breakthrough ideas that achieve tomorrow’s solutions today.

Role Overview: The Category Buyer will play a crucial role in optimizing the NAP(Network Access Products) supply chain by strategically sourcing and managing suppliers’ performance within specific categories. The role requires a strong understanding of procurement processes, market trends, cross-functional team works and negotiation skills. Preferably with an Engineering background.

Key Accountabilities:

• Category Strategy Development: Develop and implement category strategies aligned with overall IPE organizational goals, ensuring cost optimisation, quality, delivery, supply chain rationalisation and supplier diversity objectives are met.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Identify critical and strategic suppliers, map out tier N suppliers, conduct supplier evaluations and re-evaluations, establish and maintain strong business relationships. Continuously assess supplier performance and manage relationships to ensure optimal delivery and service levels.
• Contract Management: Lead negotiations with suppliers of own category to secure favourable terms and conditions. Draft, review and manage contracts, ensuring compliance with legal and organisation standards.
• Cost Management: Drive cost-saving, avoidance and VAVE initiatives by partnership with cross functional teams, through effective negotiation, process optimization, value engineering and supplier innovation. Monitor and report on PPV cost variances and implement corrective actions as needed. Effectively manage supplier payment terms, cashflow, ensure ethical procurement practices while aligning with finance objectives.
• Collaboration: Work closely with internal and external stakeholders, including finance, business systems, quality, engineering and operations, to understand business requirements and ensure alignment with procurement strategies.
• Risk Management and Sustainability: Identify and mitigate potential supply chain risks, ensure continuity of supply and minimizing disruptions to the business. Develop contingency plans for critical supply categories.
• Advanced Sourcing: Stay informed about market trends, industry best practices and regulatory changes related to assigned categories, by attending key trade shows, webinars and relevant industry events. Utilise CRH Procurement resources to optimise benefit for NAP bottom-line, look for continuous improvement by adopting latest technologies and processes.
• Leadership Quality: Prioritise own work and provide category leadership to procurement internal and external teams, promote procurement value at all times.
• All other duties as deemed necessary by the NAP Procurement Manager

Associated Responsibilities:

• Collaborate and manage internal and external stakeholder relationships
• Lead and attend category project meetings
• Manage regular supplier review meetings
• Report relevant category procurement KPIs on monthly basis

Key Performance Indicators:

1. Annual procurement budget target of P&L savings- minimum 3%.
2. Contracts coverage for SRM, based on aligned annual target.
3. Strategic Supply Chain mapping on critical supplies and tail-end spend management.
4. Effective supplier performance management on OTIF and Quality Matrix target

Experience and Training:

• Proven experience in a focused category management and strategic sourcing
• Strong Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Project management skills
• Strong negotiation skills
• Proficient with procurement software and tools
• Knowledge of procurement regulations and compliance standards
• Preferably with an Engineering background

Essential Criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Advanced degrees or professional certifications (e.g., CIPS) are a plus.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proven experience in a focused category management and strategic sourcing
• Whilst not essential, a qualification or industry experience in engineering would be desirable.

Essential Competencies:

1. Ensures accountability
2. Action oriented
3. Manages ambiguity
4. Business insight
5. Collaborates
6. Communicates effectively
7. Manages complexity
8. Manages conflict
9. Courage
10. Customer focus

*This list is not exhaustive and will be reviewed in line with changing business requirements, a good degree of flexibility and adaptability is critical to this role.

Cubis Systems is an equal opportunity employer, which values differences in our people. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, and we provide equality through our career development opportunities regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, nationality, age, and disability.

About CRH

CRH (NYSE: CRH, LSE: CRH) is the leading provider of building materials solutions that build, connect and improve our world. Employing c.75,800 people at c.3,160 operating locations in 29 countries, CRH has market leadership positions in both North America and Europe. As the essential partner for road and critical utility infrastructure, commercial building projects and outdoor living solutions, CRH’s unique offering of materials, products and value-added services helps to deliver a more resilient and sustainable built environment. The company is ranked among sector leaders by Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating agencies. A Fortune 500 company, CRH’s shares are listed on the NYSE and LSE.