Category Manager (Construction/ Property)£65,000–£75,000 + £6,000 car allowance + 5% bonus + private healthcare + pension + 25 days holidayIdeally based in North London or South Yorkshire | National remit | 4 days on-siteA major UK contractor is looking for a hands-on Category Manager to lead a small buying team and drive real commercial impact across housing and social housing contracts. This is a role for someone who enjoys being close to the detail, close to their people, and close to operations. Not someone who wants to sit behind a strategy deck.What you’ll leadYou’ll manage a team of four Buyers (with a fifth joining), split across:LondonYorkshireYou’ll visit each region once per month and spend 4 days a week on-site/ visiting suppliersThey need someone who can bring structure, pace, and credibility + who can win hearts and minds in a team that needs direction, consistency, and accountability.What you’ll deliverLead and develop the buying team, improving performance, behaviours, and delivery disciplineDrive value, cost certainty, and commercial improvement across housing/ construction contractsBuild strong relationships with operational teams and become their trusted procurement partnerManage supplier performance, sourcing, tendering, and contract implementationAlign local buying activity with wider category strategiesSupport sustainability commitments and process improvementsEnsure compliance with procurement policy, governance, and reportingBring a blend of procurement and construction buying understandingHelp shape a function that has historically lacked strong recruitment and retentionWhat you’ll needExperience in construction, housing or social housing procurement (non-negotiable)Proven people management experience — leading, coaching, and challenging teamsA hands-on approach: this is a doing role, not a purely strategic oneStrong stakeholder skills and the ability to win trust quicklyConfidence to reset expectations, raise standards, and bring consistencyComfortable working predominantly from the officeWhat you’ll get£65,000 – £75,000 salary£6,000 car allowance or company car5% bonusPrivate healthcare (single cover)Life cover x225 days holidayThe chance to make a visible, lasting impact in a function that genuinely needs strong leadership