Category Manager

We are seeking a Procurement Category Manager to join our team, supporting a leading institution in the Public Sector in achieving its strategic goals through effective procurement practices. This role is pivotal in managing a specific category of expenditure, ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, managing risks, and optimising opportunities to realise benefits. This role will be focusing on Construction, FM, and Capital Expenditure Categories.

Day to Day of the Role:

1) Category Management:

• Analyse category expenditure to gain strategic insights, including contract coverage, supplier diversity, expenditure trends, and supply market dynamics.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive category strategy, outlining procurement activities, potential market approaches, and opportunities for savings and efficiencies.
• Engage proactively with internal stakeholders to align procurement activities with organisational priorities and resource allocation.
• Conduct competitive tender processes in line with procurement legislation and policies, ensuring value for money.
• Assess supply market risks relevant to the category, addressing potential issues such as supply chain ethics, sustainability, and market volatility.
• Utilise category knowledge to enhance departmental commerciality, including developing business cases and identifying new market opportunities.

2) Contract and Project Management:

• Lead procurement projects, applying effective project management principles.
• Manage specific contracts and suppliers to optimise performance and reduce non-compliant spending.
• Implement contracts with stakeholders and suppliers, establishing effective contract management processes, including KPIs, regular reviews, and user engagement.
• Evaluate and improve internal contract management capabilities, providing advice and training as needed.
• Serve as an escalation point for contract issues, facilitating resolutions between the supplier and the institution.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Proven experience in procurement category management, within the public sector, with working knowledge of PCR2015 Contract Regulations.
• Strong understanding and experience of managing and delivering Capital/Construction and FM category projects.
• Ability to develop and execute category strategies and manage procurement projects.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Analytical skills with the ability to assess risks and opportunities within supply markets.
• Experience in contract management and supplier performance optimisation.