Category Manager

Posted 22 Oct 2026

Encirc

Elton, Cheshire (Purchasing or Procurement)


Job Type:permanentDuration:
Category:Purchasing or ProcurementRecruiter Reference:Vidrala/60/1832
URL for Applications:Apply HereSalary:48000 - 65000

Category Manager| Permanent| £48,000- £65,000 | Can be based at either of our sites - Derrylin Co Fermanagh, OR Elton, Cheshire.

Days based-Mon-Thurs 08.00-17.00 Fri 08.00-14.30- 38.75 hours per week

The Category Manager will be responsible for managing and leading the overall procurement activities in the relevant category, including managing and developing the category team.

Reporting into the Head of Category, the Category Manger will advance Encirc’s procurement strategy in the relevant category, negotiating contractual and commercial agreements with suppliers, developing supplier relationships and managing supplier performance against agreed KPIs.

Responsible for the overall management of the category, including management of the wider category team. Negotiating and managing supply contracts in alignment with overall category and business strategy, as well as responsible for a portfolio spend in the range of £10m-£40m.Be the escalation point for day-to-day supply challenges and escalate to Head of Category as relevant, and to ensure materials are delivered to site to satisfy production demand at all Encirc plants, where relevant


The Key Requirements

  • Degree level or professional qualification preferably in procurement / supply chain
  • Proven purchasing experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment
  • Experience of developing and implementing best value strategies
  • Contract management experience
  • Supplier relationship management experience
  • Strong negotiating skills with experience working for a fast-paced and diverse matrix organisation
  • Proven ability to lead projects, successfully resolving issues and utilising internal network and relationships to reach solutions.
  • Experience of ERP systems (preferably SAP) and comfortable working with spreadsheets (Excel).
  • Ability to provide expert advice to the team and colleagues across the organisation

Benefits:

  • Annual leave package
  • Free onsite gym for all employees
  • MyBenefits Reward Platform with 100s of discounts at restaurants and retailers
  • Employee Well-being benefits such as the Employee Assistance Programme
  • Pension scheme where the company contributes up to a maximum of 7%
  • Life cover at 3 timesyour annual salary
  • Optional partner life cover
  • Subsidised onsite staff restaurant
  • Free parking onsite
  • Salary sacrifice Electric car scheme
  • Subsidisedonsiteelectric car charging
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Enhance maternity and paternity leave
  • Liftshare scheme
  • Health cash plan
  • Optional dental insurance
  • Optional Private Medical Insurance
  • Optional critical illness cover
  • Social club

About the company

At Encirc, we make, fill and move glass.

Part of the Vidrala group, we are a market leader in glass container design, manufacturing, bottling and logistics solutions for the UK, Irish and European food and beverages industries.

With over 2,000 employees, we operate from our three purpose-built sites: Derrylin, Co Fermanagh; Elton, Cheshire and Bristol. We produce around 3 billion glass bottles and other containers annually and can fill up to 500 million litres of bulk shipped beverages every year. Our collective purpose is to deliver and uphold world-leading sustainable innovation, with great people and a great workplace collaborating on a great future.

Joining Encirc means you will be joining a business with a bespoke, 360-approach to the beverage supply chain, spanning filling, warehousing, and logistics. Reducing the road miles and carbon footprint of our customers' products, we are conscious disruptors prioritising sustainability and modern technology. As a forward-thinking and sustainable business, we are committed to achieving zero emissions by 2030.

Our Values

At Encirc, we’re proud to be a forward‑thinking manufacturer in a world that’s increasingly socially and environmentally conscious. Our culture is built around six core values that sit at the heart of everything we do. They guide how we work, how we make decisions, and how we support one another—helping us create a workplace where everyone can thrive.

These values aren’t just words on a wall; they’re lived, shared and championed across the business, shaping our mindset and inspiring us to keep making Encirc great for everyone.

Equal Opportunities

Encirc is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Every applicant will be evaluated according to skills regardless of age, gender, identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or religion.

We also want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. That’s why we have partnered with Recite Me to offer an accessibility toolbar on our job search page, recruitment application system and website. The toolbar includes screen reading functionality, multiple reading aids, customisable styling options and an on-demand live translation feature that boasts over 100 languages including 65 text-to-speech and styling options.

To activate the Recite Me toolbar, click on “Manage Cookies” and turn on the “Accessibility Toolbar” option.

AI Guide

Before you apply, take a moment to read our Encirc Careers - Guide to AI.pdf. It’s a quick, helpful overview of how you can use AI to support your application—and where it’s best to rely on your own experience and personality.

Next steps

Click apply, submitting an up-to-date CV tailored to this job opportunity. You can expect to receive an update on your application within two working days. We will contact you via email, so if you don’t hear from us, please check your junk mail. We look forward to hearing from you. #chooseglass

PLEASE NOTE: We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Thank you for your interest.


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How to Apply

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