Global Category Lead

A leading multi-category consumer goods organisation who are looking for an experienced Global Category Lead to take ownership of a high-profile global programme focused on supplier payments, working capital and cash performance.

Role: Global Category Lead
Duration: 6-12 month contract
Pay: £(Apply online only) p/day (Inside IR35 via Umbrella)
Location: London
Working Pattern: 3 days onsiteThis is not a traditional category management role. The right person will need to operate at the intersection of Procurement and Finance, understanding how procurement decisions influence cash flow, working capital, P&L and wider business performance.

You'll lead a global supplier payment optimisation programme, translating financial objectives into practical procurement initiatives and measurable results.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead a complex, global procurement transformation programme
Set targets and create structured plans to deliver measurable financial benefits
Drive improvements across supplier payment terms, working capital, DPO and cash generation
Develop new procurement tools, dashboards, KPIs and performance reporting
Translate financial objectives into actionable procurement and supplier strategies
Lead supplier engagement and implement sustainable payment-term improvements
Build robust governance, benefits tracking and executive reporting
Partner with senior stakeholders across Procurement, Finance, Treasury, Legal and GBS/shared services.Working across Procurement, Finance, Treasury, Legal and shared services, you'll develop and deliver plans to improve supplier payment terms and working-capital performance, with success measured against OCF and DPO outcomes

Key Requirements:

Strong experience within Procurement, transformation or complex programme delivery
A genuine understanding of Finance and the commercial impact of procurement decisions
Experience within Finance, Treasury, Source-to-Pay, Supplier Payments or other finance-enabled procurement programmes
Knowledge of working capital, payment terms, DPO, cash flow and/or OCF
Experience delivering complex, cross-functional transformation or change programmes
Strong analytical skills and experience creating dashboards, KPIs, benefits tracking or performance reporting
Confidence working with Finance and other senior cross-functional stakeholders
The ability to turn strategic financial targets into structured initiatives and deliverable outcomes
Strong supplier and stakeholder management capabilitiesRather than focusing purely on negotiation or category savings, you'll help shape how procurement directly contributes to cash generation and working-capital performance.

If you're a procurement professional with a strong financial mindset who enjoys transformation, data and turning ambitious targets into measurable results, apply now
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed