Associate Category Specialist

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 67,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Competitive pension

Professional development

Job summary

Birmingham City Council is seeking an Associate Category Specialist to lead Strategic Category Management within the new Commercial and Procurement Services. You will shape category strategies, lead a team, and influence senior stakeholders to maximise value for money and strengthen supply chains.

This senior leadership role requires MCIPS or equivalent, extensive experience in regulated procurement, and a track record of delivering measurable commercial and social value.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading strategic category management across complex procurement environments.
• Strong expertise in category strategy development, spend analysis, market intelligence and strategic sourcing within regulated procurement environments.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills with senior leaders, elected members, suppliers and partners.
• Proven ability to coach and develop high-performing procurement teams and foster innovation and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a high-performing Strategic Category Management Team, building capability and commercial excellence.
• Acting as the Council's strategic expert for category management, developing evidence-based category and sourcing strategies.
• Building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across the Council and aligning commercial priorities with objectives.
• Leading market analysis, spend cube analysis and opportunity assessments to identify efficiencies and future sourcing strategies.
• Driving supplier engagement through the procurement lifecycle, improving performance and managing risks.
• Leading complex procurement activity for mid-range contracts in collaboration with specialist teams.
• Championing continuous improvement through technology and AI to modernise procurement practices.

Skills

Strategic category management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Spend analysis

Evidence-based decision making

Education

MCIPS certification

Job description

Associate Category Specialist

Permanent

Grade 7 - £66,627 - £85,845

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review

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.

Lead strategic category management that delivers lasting value for Birmingham

Are you an experienced procurement leader with a passion for strategic category management, commercial innovation and delivering outstanding public value? Birmingham City Council is looking for an Associate Category Specialist to lead our Strategic Category Management function within our newly established Commercial and Procurement Services.

This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape category strategies across one of the UK's largest local authorities. You'll lead a team of category professionals, influence senior stakeholders and develop evidence-based sourcing strategies that maximise value for money, strengthen supply chains and deliver long-term benefits for Birmingham's residents.

About the Role

As the Associate Category Specialist, you'll provide strategic leadership by:

• Leading and developing a high-performing Strategic Category Management Team, building capability, resilience and commercial excellence.
• Acting as the Council's strategic expert for category management, developing evidence-based category and sourcing strategies that deliver measurable value and innovation.
• Building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across the Council, ensuring commercial priorities align with organisational objectives and service needs.
• Leading detailed market analysis, spend cube analysis and opportunity assessments to identify efficiencies, improve competition and shape future sourcing strategies.
• Driving supplier engagement throughout the procurement lifecycle, improving supplier performance, managing commercial risks and ensuring benefits realisation.
• Leading complex procurement activity for mid-range contracts, working collaboratively with specialist procurement teams to deliver effective commercial solutions.
• Championing continuous improvement through the use of technology, systems and AI to modernise procurement practices and improve commercial outcomes.
• Ensuring all procurement activity is delivered in accordance with legislative requirements, governance frameworks and the highest standards of ethical procurement.

About You

We're looking for an accomplished procurement leader who combines strategic commercial thinking with outstanding leadership and stakeholder management skills. You'll bring:

• Significant experience leading strategic category management across complex procurement environments, delivering measurable commercial and organisational benefits.
• Strong expertise in category strategy development, spend analysis, market intelligence and strategic sourcing within regulated procurement environments.
• Excellent knowledge of procurement legislation, governance and the Procurement Act 2023, with experience operating within complex public sector or similarly regulated organisations.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build confidence across senior leaders, elected members, suppliers and strategic partners.
• Strong analytical capability, using commercial data, market intelligence and evidence-based insight to shape strategic decision-making.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing procurement teams while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Full MCIPS membership (or equivalent professional expertise), or a commitment to work towards full MCIPS accreditation, together with recognised management experience or qualifications.

Why Join Us?

At Birmingham City Council, you'll help shape the future of commercial and procurement across one of Europe's largest local authorities. In return, we offer:

• The opportunity to lead strategic category management that delivers significant commercial, financial and social value across the Council.
• A senior leadership role within an ambitious Commercial and Procurement Service committed to innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Opportunities to further develop your leadership, strategic procurement and commercial expertise 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 leadership will strengthen procurement capability, improve commercial outcomes and help deliver lasting benefits for the people of Birmingham.

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. Our data tells us that for this level of role, ethnic minorities are underrepresented and therefore we will use positive action to support us to achieve diverse shortlists. This may mean that recruitment times are a little longer, but we think this is worth it to achieve our aim.

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 enquires 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 PersonSpecification - RM-00137089-Associate Category Specialist-Job Description.pdf