Global Category Manager, Freight & Logistics
Kidlington, ENG

The Global Category Manager, Freight & Logistics will be a highly astute commercial procurement individual who takes stewardship of global spend. This is a hands-on role with real opportunity to develop how Freight and Logistics spend is managed across the organisation.

Responsibilities:

1. Develop and deliver a strategic vision for Freight and Logistics, managing the Category across multiple Sites & Business units.
2. Establish and manage key supplier relationships, including development, negotiation, and management of contracts. Execute value-for-money decisions through spend leverage, cost benchmarking, and favourable terms, ensuring standard payment terms are achieved.
3. Establish and manage a structured supplier development programme within Freight and Logistics and across Procurement globally to drive value, manage risk, and assure quality.
4. Embed global Procurement process and governance policies, working with the procurement centre of excellence to improve processes and adoption globally.
5. Manage and ensure compliance of all new supplier setups across the category, ensuring robust approvals, contracts, and compliance.
6. Execute value-for-money decisions by exercising all value levers and using fact-based recommendations.
7. Lead sourcing and procurement activities with a global perspective to maximize leverage and effectiveness of supply at all levels.
8. Drive change across the organisation, maturing Freight and Logistics procurement in partnership with Procurement, operational leadership, and strategic suppliers.
9. Support the delivery of procurement and corporate ESG and sustainability goals.
10. Develop, implement, and manage the make vs buy strategy and policy for Freight, Warehousing, and Logistics globally.
11. Support wider procurement and supply chain initiatives related to Freight & Logistics spend.
12. Collaborate with post-acquisition companies to transition the Freight and Logistics supply base, capturing benefits and synergies.
13. Identify sustainable solutions to reduce carbon footprint and emissions across the freight and logistics category.

Minimum Requirements:

• Procurement experience within a global category role.
• Relevant category experience and experience working within a complex private sector multinational.
• Result-oriented with strong project management skills.
• Commercial acumen and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical skills with data-driven decision-making experience.
• Cost reduction experience.
• Team player with customer service focus.
• Desirable: Manufacturing experience, procurement transformation, managing critical suppliers, degree or equivalent, CIPS qualification.

Additional Information:

This is a hybrid role, with 3 days per week based in our Kidlington office.

Essentra plc is a leading global provider of essential components and solutions, with a presence in 28 countries, over 3,000 employees, and a broad manufacturing and distribution network.

Benefits include attractive salary, discretionary bonus, pension contributions, life assurance, medical cover, holiday entitlement, and various employee schemes.