Category and Strategic Relationships Lead

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

LGPS pension

Annual leave

Wellbeing programmes

Job summary

Birmingham City Council is seeking a Category and Strategic Relationships Lead to join the Commercial and Procurement Services. You will shape evidence-based category strategies and act as a trusted commercial partner to directorates, driving value-for-money and ethical procurement.

The role requires extensive experience in category management, strategic sourcing and stakeholder engagement, plus the ability to lead a high-performing team and navigate governance.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading category management, strategic sourcing or commercial procurement in regulated procurement.
• Strong knowledge of category management methodologies, procurement legislation and governance.
• Experience developing evidence-based sourcing strategies using spend data.
• Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills with senior leaders.
• Strong analytical ability to interpret complex commercial information.
• Proven experience coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• Level 6 CIPS Diploma or commitment to obtain it.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a high-performing category management team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Acting as the strategic commercial partner for a portfolio of Council directorates, providing expert advice across the full procurement lifecycle.
• Developing and delivering evidence-based category strategies that respond to organisational priorities, market intelligence and emerging commercial opportunities.
• Leading market engagement, supplier relationship management and strategic sourcing activities to improve competition, innovation and long-term value.
• Using commercial, supplier and spend data to identify opportunities, manage risks and measure financial, social value and sustainability outcomes.
• Leading complex procurement activity, including negotiations, structured dialogue and supplier engagement, ensuring compliance with governance and legislative requirements.
• Driving continuous improvement through the use of technology, performance insight and modern procurement practices to enhance commercial outcomes.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Commercial procurement

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Data analysis

Leadership

Coaching

CIPS Diploma

Education

Level 6 CIPS Diploma

Job description

Category and Strategic Relationships Lead

Permanent

Grade 6 - £54,495- £64,811

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 expertise in category management, commercial strategy and stakeholder engagement? Birmingham City Council is looking for a Category and Strategic Relationships Lead to join our newly established Commercial and Procurement Services.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the development of evidence-based category strategies that maximise value for money, strengthen supplier relationships and support the Council's strategic priorities. Working closely with senior leaders across the organisation, you'll act as a trusted commercial partner, helping directorates deliver better outcomes through innovative, ethical and commercially focused procurement.

About the Role

As the Category and Strategic Relationships Lead, you'll provide strategic leadership across category management by:

• Leading and developing a high-performing category management team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Acting as the strategic commercial partner for a portfolio of Council directorates, providing expert advice across the full procurement lifecycle.
• Developing and delivering evidence-based category strategies that respond to organisational priorities, market intelligence and emerging commercial opportunities.
• Leading market engagement, supplier relationship management and strategic sourcing activities to improve competition, innovation and long-term value.
• Using commercial, supplier and spend data to identify opportunities, manage risks and measure financial, social value and sustainability outcomes.
• Leading complex procurement activity, including negotiations, structured dialogue and supplier engagement, ensuring compliance with governance and legislative requirements.
• Driving continuous improvement through the use of technology, performance insight and modern procurement practices to enhance commercial outcomes.

About You

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

• Significant experience leading category management, strategic sourcing or commercial procurement within a regulated procurement environment.
• Strong knowledge of category management methodologies, procurement legislation and governance, with experience delivering value for money through strategic procurement.
• Experience developing evidence-based sourcing strategies using spend analysis, market intelligence and supplier performance data.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across senior leadership teams and external partners.
• Strong analytical capability, interpreting complex commercial information to inform strategic decision‑making and benefits realisation.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing teams to deliver organisational objectives.
• A Level 6 CIPS Diploma (or equivalent professional expertise), or a commitment to work towards the qualification.

Why Join Us?

At Birmingham City Council, you'll play a leading role in transforming how procurement supports one of Europe's largest local authorities. In return, we offer:

• The opportunity to shape strategic category management across a diverse portfolio of services with significant commercial impact.
• A senior leadership role within an ambitious Commercial and Procurement Service committed to innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Opportunities to further develop your leadership, commercial and strategic procurement 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 help deliver better value, stronger supplier partnerships and improved public services 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-00137156-Category and Strategic Relationships Lead-Job Description.pdf