Purpose: The Category Manager Indirects will own and lead the commercial strategy for all non-production spend across Panda during a critical phase of transformation and growth.
This role acts as the commercial lead for a diverse range of indirect categories including Facilities Management, PPE, Insurance, Office Supplies, and Professional Services.
You will ensure that these investments are commercially robust, scalable, and aligned to Pandas strategic objectives including the delivery of sustainable, recurring EBITDA improvement.
You will play a key role in enabling Pandas new ways of working by sourcing and optimising the services and supplies that support our operational efficiency, safety standards, and internal team requirements.
Scope of accountability: End-to-End Indirect Category Ownership Full accountability for indirect categories, including Facilities Management (FM), PPE and Workwear, Insurance, Office Supplies, MRO, and Professional Services.
Cost, Value & Risk Management Deliver recurring savings, cost avoidance, and value creation across the indirect budget while managing supplier risk, health & safety compliance, and contractual exposure.
Business Partnering Act as the primary commercial interface between Procurement and internal functions (HR, Finance, Operations, H&S), translating operational requirements into commercially optimised agreements.
Key Responsibilities: Category Strategy & Sourcing Develop and execute Indirect category strategies aligned to Pandas growth plans and operating model.
Identify opportunities for vendor consolidation, tail-spend management, and improved commercial terms across multi-site operations.
Lead sourcing and tender processes for complex service contracts (e.g., Cleaning, Security, Insurance).
Commercial & Contract Management Lead negotiations on service level agreements (SLAs) and framework contracts, with a focus on scalability, flexibility, and long-term value.
Manage contract lifecycle activity including renewals, renegotiations, and performance reviews to ensure service quality.
Ensure commercial structures support future growth and avoid unnecessary cost escalation.
Transformation & Operational Enablement Partner closely with Operations and HR to embed standardisation across PPE and office supplies, ensuring items are fit-for-purpose and commercially sound.
Challenge specifications where appropriate to ensure solutions meet safety and quality standards without unnecessary gold-plating.
Support the implementation of e-procurement or P2P systems to streamline indirect purchasing.
Supplier & Stakeholder Management Build strong, professional relationships with key indirect suppliers, holding them accountable to agreed service levels and safety outcomes.
Act as a trusted business partner to functional leadership and wider stakeholders.
Promote Pandas One Team approach while maintaining firm commercial governance.
Safety, Compliance & ESG Support the sourcing of PPE and facilities solutions that protect Pandas workforce and comply with Health & Safety regulations.
Ensure suppliers meet environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, contributing to Panda's sustainability goals.
Monitor insurance requirements and ensure comprehensive coverage through strategic broker and underwriter management.
Data-Led Decision Making Ensure indirect procurement decisions are supported by accurate spend data, clear business cases, and measurable outcomes.
Track and report on savings, cost avoidance, and commercial performance across all assigned categories.
Experience and Skills: Essential Proven experience in Indirect Category Management or Procurement within a complex, multi-site organisation.
Strong understanding of Facilities Management, PPE, Insurance, and Corporate Services.
Demonstrable experience negotiating complex, high-value framework agreements.
Ability to operate as a true business partner to diverse stakeholders (Ops, Finance, H&S).
Strong commercial acumen with a track record of delivering savings and TCO Total Cost of Ownership) value.
Desirable Experience supporting large-scale transformation or systems implementation programmes.
Exposure to vendor consolidation and operating-model change