Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Category Manager

Chandler's Ford
7 months ago
Applications closed

Category Manager - Hampshire
Our client has experienced significant growth in recent years. To continue this trajectory, they are seeking a Category Manager.
Are you an experienced procurement professional looking to significantly impact a dynamic organisation in Hampshire? This Category Manager role offers a unique chance to drive strategic sourcing initiatives and optimise supply chain performance within a leading and expanding company.
Why This Role Stands Out:

  • Strategic Influence: Play a pivotal role in shaping sourcing strategies and driving cost-saving initiatives that directly contribute to the company's bottom line.
  • Professional Growth: Engage with senior stakeholders and develop cross-functional policies, enhancing your leadership and strategic planning skills.
  • Innovation and Sustainability: Champion sustainability and innovation within the supply chain, making a tangible difference in the company's environmental and social footprint.
  • Collaborative Environment: Be part of a culture that values collaboration and accountability, where your contributions are recognised and valued.
    Key Responsibilities:
  • Conduct internal analysis of spend and savings potential, optimising spend aggregation.
  • Perform external market analysis to review and benchmark the current supply chain.
  • Develop sourcing strategies for RFx activities, demonstrating risk/reward/ROI.
  • Manage internal stakeholder sourcing and contractual requirements.
  • Support the Group Procurement Director in policy development and governance.
  • Contribute to group savings targets and future savings plans.
  • Develop and consolidate a centralised supplier due diligence process.
  • Execute strategies to simplify the supply chain and maximise supplier value.
  • Champion sustainability and innovation within the supply chain.
  • Participate in internal and external audits and regulatory requirements.
    Skills and Experience Required:
  • Extensive procurement experience with a broad expertise in the field.
  • Excellent communication skills – verbal, written, and presentational.
  • Strong ability to collaborate and engage with stakeholders at various levels.
  • Persuasive and influential with a proactive, hands-on approach.
  • Analytical and strategic mindset.
  • Demonstrable end-to-end sourcing and RFx experience.
  • Willingness to travel across the UK with potential for occasional international travel.
  • Experience in global supply chain.
  • Degree-level education and CIPS or equivalent qualification.
    This role is perfect for a driven and strategic procurement professional ready to take on new challenges and make a meaningful impact.
    APPLY NOW for the Category Manager job in Hampshire or contact Janet Marsh

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

UAV & Drone Hiring Trends 2026: What to Watch Out For (For Job Seekers & Recruiters)

As we move into 2026, the UK UAV (uncrewed aerial vehicle) and drone jobs market is maturing fast. The “shiny new toy” phase is over. Public expectations and regulation are tougher, budgets are more closely scrutinised, and clients want measurable outcomes – safer inspections, faster data, lower costs, better evidence – not just impressive footage. At the same time, demand for UAV services in infrastructure inspection, construction, energy, agriculture, emergency response, defence and media continues to grow. Long-term trends like asset digitisation, smart cities, and net-zero infrastructure all rely on high-quality aerial data and remote operations. The result: fewer opportunistic one-off drone gigs, and more emphasis on professional UAV operations, data workflows and compliant, scalable services. Whether you’re: A job seeker looking for “UAV jobs in the UK”, “drone pilot jobs UK”, or “remote UAS operator roles”, or A recruiter or hiring manager trying to understand “UAV hiring trends 2026” and “how to hire drone pilots and UAS engineers”, …this guide breaks down what’s changing – and what to do about it.

UAV (Drones) Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Need To Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK unmanned aviation (UAV/UAS/RPAS) hiring has shifted from aircraft‑type buzzwords to capability‑driven evaluation across flight ops, autonomy, data products, safety & regulatory compliance. Employers want proof you can plan, fly, analyse and scale UAV systems safely and economically—VLOS/A2 CofC, GVC, BVLOS & SORA ops, UTM integrations, command‑and‑control resilience, sense‑and‑avoid, payload pipelines, and fleet reliability. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews & how to prepare—especially for UAV pilots/ops managers, flight test engineers, autonomy/perception, GNC/control, UTM/backend, safety & airworthiness, data processing/analysis, and field engineering roles. Who this is for: UAV pilots & flight ops, mission planners, flight test & safety engineers, autonomy/SLAM/perception, GNC/control engineers, embedded/avionics, communications & C2 links, UTM/airspace integrations, data processing (imagery/LiDAR/thermal), GIS/photogrammetry, maintenance & field techs, and programme/product managers in the UK.

Why UAV (Drone) Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have seen rapid adoption across sectors in the UK — agriculture, logistics, inspection, mapping, delivery, search & rescue, environmental monitoring, media, defence, and more. As UAV use proliferates, the roles supporting them are shifting. Modern UAV careers are no longer just about aerodynamics, electronics or autopilot algorithms. They now require knowledge of law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design — because flying machines in public airspace must be safe, trusted, legal, intuitive and well communicated. In this article, we’ll explore why UAV careers in the UK are becoming more multidisciplinary, how those allied fields intersect with UAV work, and what job-seekers & employers should do to adapt.