Category Manager

Education Authority (Northern Ireland); Ballymena; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Education Authority (Northern Ireland) is seeking a Category Manager, Pupil Services and Procurement to lead category strategy and procurement delivery across EA. You will manage a team, drive supplier relationships, and ensure contracts meet KPI targets and compliance requirements.

You will work within NI procurement regulations, support process improvement, and engage stakeholders to deliver value for money and service excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 2 years procurement experience or 5 years procurement experience.
• Two years experience in staff management/supervision.
• Three years experience managing full procurement lifecycle.
• Willingness to work towards CIPS qualification.
• Access to a suitably maintained vehicle for EA duties.

Responsibilities

• Lead category management strategies to deliver value.
• Develop and manage a procurement pipeline and contracts.
• Build intelligent stakeholder networks for advice and guidance.
• Manage supplier relationships and performance improvements.
• Ensure tender processes and contract management comply with legislation.

Skills

Communication

Objective assessment

Proactive/self-motivated

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Tools

e-TendersNI

Oracle Procure to Pay

Job description

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.
  

PERSON SPECIFICATION

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria.
  

Section 1 - Essential Criteria

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Experience

• Hold a Bachelor’s Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent or higher qualification and have two years’ experience working in Procurement OR have five years' experience working in Procurement
• Have two years’ experience in the management or supervision of staff
• Have three years’ experience of managing the full procurement and contract management lifecycle
• Shortlisting by Application Form

Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience of applying Procurement Legislation including Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contract Regulations (2015), Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy (NIPPP) and Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) within Public sector contracts
• Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

• Willingness to work towards achieving CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management) qualification
• to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion;
• be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion.
• Shortlisting by Application Form

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.

Abilities

• Excellent communication skills and be able to communicate effectively with staff, customers and suppliers at all levels
• Ability to assess objectively all aspects in the management of the supply chain
• Have a pro-active and self-motivated approach

Interview

Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here.

Section 3 - Desirable Criteria

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Experience

• Have experience in the operation of the e-TendersNI
• Have experience in the operation of an Oracle based Procure to Pay system
• Shortlisting by Application Form

Skills

• Ability to plan, manage and implement change
• Shortlisting by Application Form

Our Values

Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.

In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.

Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

Category Manager, Pupil Services and Procurement

REPORTS TO

Senior Category Manager

JOB PURPOSE

The Category Manager will assist the Senior Category Manager and the Head of Procurement to ensure the successful implementation and delivery of a compliant, consistent and professional procurement service within EA. The Category Manager will be responsible for the effective delivery of fit for purpose contracts that maximise value throughout the commercial lifecycle of contracts. They will assist the Senior Category Manager in developing and implementing category management strategies to achieve the aims and objectives of EA, delivering value for money and supply chain improvement, embedding efficient and effective procurement processes that ensure procurement compliance across EA and provide a customer focussed Commercial and Procurement Service whilst providing professional procurement advice and support in line with the Procurement Legislation including the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contract Regulations (2015), Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy (NIPPP) and Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs).

PRINICIPAL DUTIES OF THE POST

1.1. Management of a Procurement Category to deliver effective category management strategies based upon business needs and emerging trends and manage contract reviews ensuring contract performance is managed in line with KPIs and customer requirements.
1.2. Manage and develop an effective category management team to ensure competent and sustainable procurement resources are available to meet the needs of EA
1.3. Develop category level intelligent customer networks (stakeholder experts who will be utilised to provide advice and guidance to procurements) and manage ongoing relationships with EA Departments and wider EA customers.
1.4. Manage strategic supplier relationship management to identify performance improvements.
1.5. Work with other CoPEs to develop collaborative strategies for category.
1.6. Developing contract management and supplier relationship management strategies as integral aspects of procurement activity.
1.7. Proactively engage in pre-market engagement and regular market sounding to establish feasibility, capacity, capability and encourage innovation.
1.8. Build working relationships with procurement professionals from other CoPEs and continually benchmark and regularly examine best practice to ensure EA are leading in category level innovative procurement.
1.9. Apply appropriate risk management methodologies and provide support for reporting staff fin high value/high risk contracts.
1.10. Develop an understanding of the of category expenditure, policy, regulatory, legislative or supply and demand issues.
1.11. Ensure all procurement activity within category is conducted in line with EA QMS and complies with Procurement Legislation including Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contract Regulations (2015) and Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs).
1.12. Provide accurate, professional and expert advice and guidance across the EA on all procurement related matters.
1.13. Manage the category team to ensure that all tenders and contracts are awarded on time and are effectively managed to deliver maximum benefit to EA.
1.14. Plan, lead and manage the workload within the sub-category specific procurement pipeline, linking into the wider category and EA procurement pipelines and achievement of deadlines for contract implementation.
1.15. Promote an efficiency culture within EA Procurement that critically analyses and challenge existing practices, be innovative in proposing and leading initiatives that result in service enhancement.
1.16. Ensure mandatory use of e-tendering system and the quality management system for all tender processes and contract management.
1.17. Where opportunities for collaboration exist, proactively work in conjunction with CPD and other CoPEs to drive the efficiency agenda.
1.18. Provide regular management information and analysis on contracts and supplier performance.
1.19. Analyse requests for DACs and provide advice to Senior Category Manager and/or the Procurement Compliance Manager and/or the Head of Procurement.
This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.
In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.