Category Manager - Oil derivatives
Our client, a leading player in the building materials sector, is seeking an experienced Category Manager for Oil Derivatives to oversee the strategic procurement, sourcing, and category development of oil‑based products critical to their manufacturing operations. This role is instrumental in ensuring cost-effective supply, risk mitigation, and long-term supplier partnerships across a complex and volatile commodities market.
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in oil derivatives (e.g., bitumen, resins, polymers, fuels, lubricants), understands global commodity pricing dynamics, and can translate market intelligence into strategic procurement decisions that support the company's operational and sustainability goals.
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Management
- Develop and implement a comprehensive category strategy for oil derivatives aligned with business objectives, production requirements, and sustainability targets.
- Conduct market analysis to identify opportunities for cost optimisation, risk reduction, and value creation.
- Lead category planning, including demand forecasting, supply planning, and spend management.
Procurement & Supplier Management
- Source, evaluate, and negotiate with suppliers of oil-derived materials across regional and global markets.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, ensuring performance aligned with quality, cost, compliance, and service-level expectations.
- Manage long-term commercial agreements, tenders, and contracts.
Market Intelligence & Risk Management
- Monitor global energy and petrochemical markets, pricing indices, and geopolitical factors influencing oil derivatives.
- Provide actionable insights and recommendations to relevant business units.
- Implement risk-management strategies, including hedging considerations, inventory strategies, and alternative sourcing.
Cross-functional Collaboration
- Partner with manufacturing, R&D, operations, and finance teams to ensure alignment on product specifications, supply plans, and cost targets.
- Support product development initiatives by providing category expertise on technical performance and raw material options.
- Act as the subject matter expert on oil derivatives internally.
Operational Excellence
- Optimise procurement processes, including digital tools, analytics, and KPI tracking.
- Ensure compliance with company standards, ESG expectations, and regulatory requirements (e.g., REACH, sustainability frameworks).
- Drive continuous improvement projects across the supply chain.
Qualifications & Experience
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Chemistry, or related field.
- 5+ years experience in procurement, category management, or supply chain related to oil derivatives, petrochemicals, or industrial raw materials.
- Strong commercial and negotiation skills.
- Deep understanding of commodities markets, pricing mechanisms, and risk management.
- Experience working in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
Preferred
- Experience within building materials, construction chemicals, adhesives, or related sectors.
- Knowledge of sustainability trends in petrochemical supply chains.
- Familiarity with SAP, ERP systems, and procurement analytics tools.
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.
That's why we recommend registering your resume so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.
Yes, we help with CV and interview preparation. From customized support on how to optimize your CV to interview preparation and compensation negotiations, we advocate for you throughout your next career move.