Associate Category Lead

Birmingham City Council; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid work model

LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme)

Generous annual leave entitlement

Wellbeing initiatives

Staff benefits

Job summary

Birmingham City Council is seeking an experienced Associate Category Lead to shape strategic procurement across a major local authority. You will develop evidence-based category strategies, lead procurement projects from strategy through to award, and build strong commercial partnerships to maximise value for Birmingham's residents.

You will influence decisions, deliver savings, and drive innovation while working within governance and ethical procurement standards.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering procurement or category management activities across the full lifecycle.
• Strong knowledge of category management and sourcing strategies.
• Experience analysing spend, supplier and market data to develop evidence-based sourcing strategies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience operating within governance frameworks and applying procurement legislation.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with data-driven decision-making.
• Willingness to work towards Level 5 CIPS Diploma.

Responsibilities

• Deliver strategic procurement through developing and implementing category management strategies.
• Lead medium-scale procurement projects from strategy to contract award.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and suppliers, providing commercial advice.
• Use supplier performance and market data to identify savings, innovation, and social value.
• Support contract negotiations and supplier performance management for long-term benefits.
• Produce procurement guidance and best-practice resources, leveraging technology and AI.
• Ensure procurement activity aligns with governance, assurance and ethical standards.

Skills

Category management

Procurement strategy

Stakeholder management

Spend analysis

Governance & compliance

Data-driven decision making

Education

Level 5 CIPS Diploma (desirable)

Job description

Grade D - £45,091 – £53,460

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Equal Pay Programme

Working 36.5 hours per week

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Shape strategic procurement that delivers value for Birmingham Are you an experienced procurement professional with a passion for strategic sourcing and category management? Birmingham City Council is recruiting for a number of Associate Category Leads to join our newly established Strategic Category Management team.

Permanent

Grade D - £45,091 – £53,460

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Equal Pay Programme

Working 36.5 hours per week

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Shape strategic procurement that delivers value for Birmingham Are you an experienced procurement professional with a passion for strategic sourcing and category management? Birmingham City Council is recruiting for a number of Associate Category Leads to join our newly established Strategic Category Management team. This is an exciting opportunity to influence how one of the UK's largest local authorities spends billions of pounds on goods, works and services. You'll develop evidence‑based category strategies, build strong commercial relationships and deliver procurement solutions that maximise value for money, promote innovation and support better outcomes for Birmingham's residents.

About The Role

As an Associate Category Lead, you'll play a key role in delivering strategic procurement by:

• Developing and implementing category management strategies using market intelligence, spend analysis and demand profiling to deliver commercial value.
• Leading medium‑scale procurement projects from strategy development through to contract award, ensuring compliance with legislation and governance requirements.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders, suppliers and partners, providing expert commercial advice and influencing procurement decisions.
• Using supplier performance, market analysis and commercial data to identify opportunities for savings, innovation, sustainability and social value.
• Supporting contract negotiations, contract mobilisation and supplier performance management to maximise long‑term benefits.
• Producing procurement guidance, toolkits and best practice resources while driving improvements through the effective use of technology and AI.
• Delivering procurement activity in line with the Council's governance, assurance and ethical procurement standards.

About You

We're looking for commercially minded procurement professionals who can combine strategic thinking with strong stakeholder management skills. You'll bring:

• Experience delivering procurement or category management activities across the full procurement lifecycle within a regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of category management principles, procurement strategy development and commercial best practice.
• Experience analysing spend, supplier and market data to develop evidence‑based sourcing strategies and improve value for money.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to influence internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Experience operating within complex procurement governance frameworks and applying procurement legislation confidently.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, using data and market insight to inform commercial decision‑making.
• A commitment to continuous professional development, with a willingness to work towards a Level 5 CIPS Diploma if not already achieved.

Why Join Us?

At Birmingham City Council, You'll Be Part Of a Modern Commercial And Procurement Service That Is Transforming Procurement Across One Of Europe's Largest Local Authorities. In Return, We Offer

• The opportunity to shape strategic procurement and category management across a broad and diverse portfolio of spend.
• A collaborative and ambitious team committed to innovation, commercial excellence and continuous improvement.
• Opportunities to develop your strategic, commercial and leadership capabilities through ongoing professional development.
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities where service needs allow.
• A competitive Local Government Pension Scheme and generous annual leave entitlement.
• Access to a wide range of employee wellbeing initiatives and staff benefits.
• A rewarding career where your expertise will help deliver better value, stronger supplier partnerships and improved public services for the people of Birmingham.

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.

We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

For any informal enquiries please contact: [e-mail]

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Job Description and Person Specification - RM-00137261-Associate Category Lead-Job Description 1.pdf