Category Lead

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service; Cambuslang; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/home working across Scotland

28 days annual leave rising to 34 days

Local Government Pension Scheme

VivUp discounts

Career development

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is recruiting a Category Lead to shape procurement strategy across Scotland, lead a team of procurement professionals and drive savings while ensuring compliance with public sector requirements. The role is mainly home-based with access to Cambuslang office and occasional travel for meetings.

You will own spend portfolios, engage senior stakeholders, and deliver value, governance and service improvements.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in a business-related discipline (or equivalent).
• Full MCIPS membership, or actively working towards full membership.
• Experience developing and implementing category strategies within a complex organisation.
• Strong end-to-end procurement experience including sourcing, tendering, contract award and management.
• Practical knowledge of public sector procurement legislation and governance.
• Experience managing multiple complex procurement projects simultaneously.
• Strong commercial awareness delivering value-driven outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management with senior stakeholders.
• Previous people management experience including leadership and team development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of category strategies aligned to organisational priorities.
• Provide leadership across a portfolio of procurement activity from strategy to contract implementation.
• Manage and develop a team of Procurement Specialists with coaching and support.
• Engage with senior stakeholders to understand business needs and develop solutions.
• Ensure compliant tendering in line with public sector legislation and policies.
• Drive supplier performance, contract management and continuous improvement.
• Monitor savings and category performance against objectives.
• Represent Procurement at internal and external forums and deputise when required.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Stakeholder management

People management

Strategic sourcing

Contract management

Education

Degree in business-related discipline

MCIPS membership or in progress

Job description

Flexible, purpose-driven procurement leadership roles where you can shape category strategy, lead a team of procurement professionals and support an organisation that helps save lives across Scotland.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Category Lead

Location: Scotland-wide, primarily home-based with full flexibility, plus access to Cambuslang office and occasional travel for team meetings

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is the national fire and rescue organisation for Scotland, serving communities across the country every day. Alongside frontline emergency response, it plays a key role in prevention, protection and wider public safety, helping to create safer communities.

They are now looking to appoint a Category Lead into their Procurement Team, offering the opportunity to take ownership of a major spend portfolio, lead strategic procurement activity and manage a team of procurement professionals while influencing procurement outcomes across the organisation.

Although aligned to their Cambuslang headquarters, this role offers full flexibility to work from home, enabling applications from candidates based anywhere in Scotland, with occasional travel required for team meetings. Flexible working patterns are actively supported, including condensed working weeks and adaptable start and finish times.

This role offers the opportunity to lead category strategy across a diverse portfolio of spend, working closely with stakeholders to deliver savings, value, compliance and service improvements in line with public sector procurement best practice.

The Role

• Lead the development and delivery of category strategies aligned to organisational priorities and future service requirements
• Provide leadership across a portfolio of procurement activity, overseeing sourcing projects from strategy development through to contract award and implementation
• Manage and develop a team of Procurement Specialists, providing direction, coaching and support to ensure successful delivery across the category area
• Engage with senior stakeholders to understand business needs, challenge requirements and develop effective procurement solutions
• Ensure compliant tendering processes are delivered in line with public sector legislation, governance standards and organisational policies
• Drive supplier performance, contract management and continuous improvement activity across key contracts and suppliers
• Monitor procurement savings, benefits realisation and category performance against agreed objectives
• Represent Procurement at internal and external forums, deputising for the Procurement Manager where required

The work is diverse and often high impact, spanning areas such as digital and IT, operational equipment, protective clothing, specialist frontline assets and other strategically important areas of expenditure.

Experience/Qualifications

• Degree qualified in a business-related discipline (or equivalent)
• Full MCIPS membership, or actively working towards full membership
• Significant experience developing and implementing category strategies within a complex organisation
• Strong end-to-end procurement experience, including strategic sourcing, tendering, contract award, implementation and contract management
• Practical knowledge and application of public sector procurement legislation and governance frameworks
• Experience managing multiple complex procurement projects simultaneously
• Strong commercial awareness with a proven ability to deliver value-driven outcomes
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing and engaging senior stakeholders
• Previous people management experience, including leadership, performance management and team development
• Experience operating within a regulated or process-driven environment
• Experience within the wider public sector

Salary/Benefits

• Salary: £53,540 to £55,198, plus a £9,620 market allowance
• Annual leave: 28 days, rising to 34 days after 5 years, plus 6 public holidays
• Pension: Local Government Pension Scheme, with very generous employer contributions
• Flexible working: hybrid/home working across Scotland, flexible hours and condensed working options
• Employee benefits: access to VivUp discounts, savings and salary sacrifice schemes
• Career development: clear progression pathways, training and development opportunities, support for continued professional development
• Wellbeing support: health and wellbeing services and family-friendly policies

This is an excellent opportunity for experienced procurement and category management professionals looking to take on a strategic leadership position within an organisation where procurement plays a critical role in supporting frontline services and communities across Scotland.

Recruitment Process

Closing date for applications is Friday 6th November, with interviews likely to be held in November. These will consist of a values and competency-based interview along with a practical, scenario-based assessment.

To stand out, review the role requirements and come prepared with clear examples of how you meet these, especially how you demonstrate the SFRS values of Safety, Teamwork, Respect and Innovation in your work.