Procurement Category Manager, Retail Operations

Responsibilities

The Category Manager will lead the development and execution of procurement strategies for Integrated Facilities Management across retail operations to drive value and operational resilience. They will manage complex supplier relationships, negotiate high-value contracts, and implement data-driven sourcing models to ensure service quality and cost efficiency.

Requirements

Candidates must have over 7 years of experience in category management with significant exposure to Integrated Facilities Management across hard and soft services. Strong commercial, financial, and legal negotiation skills are required, along with the ability to influence senior stakeholders in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.

Skills

• Category management
• Integrated facilities management
• Procurement strategy
• Strategic sourcing
• Contract negotiation
• Supplier relationship management
• Financial analysis
• Risk management
• Retail operations
• Stakeholder management
• Data analytics
• Project management
• Commercial acumen
• Service level management
• Change management

About this role

Company Description
Procurement Category Manager, Retail Operations (12 month FTC)
Because we strive to put people first.
Culture, our way.
Procurement at Primark
What’s a career at Primark all about? The positive impact you’re making, the experiences you’re having and the people you’re with. You’re our inspiration. Embrace what sets you apart, own your career and develop in ways you never expected. Leave your mark. And do it your way.
The Category Manager lead the activities across categories of spend with the accountability for developing and executing effective procurement strategies for the categories and actively contributing to the development of the procurement function’s service to Primark.
Job Description
The Category Manager supports the development and execution of effective category strategies across Retail Operations, providing deep category expertise in Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) spanning soft services (cleaning, security and cash in transit) and hard FM, and supporting the design, contracting and delivery of an IFM model across the majority of the Primark estate (excluding the Middle East, c.£290m annual spend), ensuring value creation, service performance and operational resilience.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities:
You will be responsible for supporting the development and execution of strategic category management to drive spend under management and value, specifically across Retail Operations IFM (soft services including cleaning, security and cash in transit, and hard FM), supporting both business-as-usual activity and the strategic move from country by country service management to a consolidated IFM approach
You will support the Retail Operations Category Managers in developing and executing the IFM category strategy and procurement plan, aligned to business goals, store operations requirements, market dynamics and internal demand, ensuring optimal performance, cost efficiency, innovation and service integrity
You will support the design and implementation of the IFM sourcing and operating model (including service scope and bundling, supplier structure, commercial model and performance frameworks), with robust negotiation strategies embedded into the category plan
You will identify, assess and manage supplier and category risk including supplier concentration, service continuity through transition, labour and employee transfer obligations, and regulatory compliance across markets, ensuring resiliency and governance
You will monitor market trends across IFM, facilities services, security, cash logistics and supporting technology to continuously evolve category strategies and unlock competitive advantage
You will support a cost efficiency and value optimisation programme, recognising that savings come not only from rate card reductions but from operational efficiencies, service bundling and redesigned service models, while balancing cost control with service quality
Using insights, analytics and operational performance metrics (total cost of ownership, service levels, response and resolution times, cost per site), you will support the creation of data-driven sourcing strategies aligned to business and operational goals
You will ensure benefits tracking is robust, incorporating both financial savings (rate and non rate) and service performance outcomes from category and sourcing activities
Beyond price, you will drive continuous improvement, supplier innovation and sustainability across IFM services, including responsible labour practices and environmental performance
You will support the negotiation of high-value, complex IFM contracts (e.g. master services agreements, service schedules, performance and pricing mechanisms, transition and mobilisation terms), ensuring alignment with the category strategy
You will support the execution of sourcing strategies through Category Specialists and GBS, including tendering, contracting and supplier mobilisation, to the required quality and timelines
You will ensure appropriate negotiation strategies are applied to IFM sourcing, supporting teams in complex supplier negotiations where required
Working closely with Retail Operations stakeholders, you will build strategic supplier partnerships with IFM providers, driving both performance and innovation
Strong leadership and influencing is required to partner with senior Retail Operations stakeholders, aligning procurement approaches with operational strategy, store standards and customer experience
You will act as a subject matter expert for IFM procurement, advising the Category Managers and senior leaders on market trends, IFM operating models and commercial strategies
You will support change across procurement ways of working for facilities and retail operations categories, embedding governance while enabling the agility required in a live, multi-market store estate
You will nurture strong collaboration with GBS partners ensuring alignment to IFM category needs and integration into ways of working
Promote and adopt digital tools and analytics to drive insights, transparency and performance across IFM spend
You will ensure your work is fully documented and handed over, ensuring continuity of delivery and benefits beyond the end of your 12 month contract
Qualifications
Required Experience:
7+ years related experience in a Category Manager role (or equivalent senior procurement role), with significant exposure to IFM procurement across hard and soft services
Ability to manage complex sourcing activities including IFM supplier selection, service bundling and multi-market engagements
Demonstrated success in designing and delivering IFM or bundled services strategies, including transition from fragmented supply to consolidated models
Experience managing strategic FM and IFM supplier relationships to drive value, innovation and performance
Strong commercial, financial and legal negotiation expertise including IFM contracts, service levels, pricing models and employee tr...

About Primark

Retail · 10,001+ employees · headquartered in Dublin, County / Dublin postal district · founded 1969