Category Manager

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Dudley; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Dudley Council is seeking a Category Manager to lead procurement projects, ensuring value for money and compliance with corporate objectives. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to significant social change and work within a supportive environment that promotes diversity and inclusivity.

Benefits

30 days annual leave rising to 34 days after 5 years

Agile working options

Coaching, mentoring, and training support

Flexible working hours

Nine Public Holidays per year

Qualifications

• Experience in a procurement discipline, preferably Public Sector.
• Experience of identifying and delivering savings.
• Experience of leading a range of different procurements.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement projects in defined categories.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies.
• Support the delivery of major projects.

Skills

Procurement experience

Commercial skills

Relationship building

Spend analysis

Education

CIPS level 4 or equivalent experience

Job description

Role: Category Manager

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary: £37,938.00 - £40,476.00

Procurement is at the heart of Dudley Council's £1billion regeneration agenda, IT transformation, housing improvements and the delivery of services for adults and children. We are in an exciting period to develop and deliver system change across the organisation.

If you are passionate about change and want to work in an exciting organisation that actively contributes to social change, then this procurement role is the next role for you!

We are looking for a Category Manager to lead our procurement projects in defined categories.

Working alongside the Procurement Business Partner on our multi-year council wide transformation programme, you will ensure that we have solid foundations on which to build our vision for the future, providing technical expertise to the programme, and supporting the delivery of major projects.

What we need you to do:

• Build strong and lasting relationships with managers to ensure we achieve value for money through savings and social value.This covers the whole lifecycle from identifying needs, developing, and implementing procurement strategies, and supporting the management of contracts.
• Contribute to developing and implementing a relevant and robust strategy and identifying innovative procurement opportunities.
• Ensure procurement supports delivery of the Council’s Corporate objectives in a compliant manner and to the highest possible professional standards.
• Support the Procurement Business Partners in developing a modern and resilient, high quality, customer focused procurement service. Help achieve the outcomes of the improvement programme.

What we will need you to bring to the role:

• Qualified or willing to work towards CIPS level 4 or experience in a procurement discipline, preferably Public Sector.
• With a focus on defined directorates and categories of spend, work closely with Business Partners identifying needs, developing, and implementing procurement strategies.
• Identify innovative procurement opportunities and support the delivery of improvements and efficiencies.
• Procurement experience and commercial skills
• Experience of identifying and delivering savings.
• Experience of spend analysis.
• Experience of leading a range of different procurements.
• You will be responsible for multi-million pound spend.

The benefits of working for Dudley:

• Our working environment promotes diversity and inclusivity, healthy lifestyle choices and wellbeing.
• You will be supported with coaching, mentoring and training.
• Agile working. Able to work from home if desired, with occasional office days.
• 30 days annual leave rising to 34 days after 5 years continuous service
• Flexible working. One flexi day per month permitted if sufficient hours are accrued
• Nine Public Holidays per year

Can you please upload a mandatory supporting statement covering the following (and ensure this supporting statement is anonymised):

Please provide examples of how you meet the essential requirements outlined on the Personnel Specification.

You may give examples from your experience in employment, education, voluntary work or personal life.

We would also welcome an anonymised CV as part of your application.

If you are interested in this role and would like further information, please contact Jessica Prince, Procurement Business Partner via email [e-mail] or 01384 816456

The closing date for this vacancy is 8th June 2025, however, we reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier if required.

Previous applicants need not apply.

So that we can demonstrate Dudley’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and to improve bias in the recruitment process that could create barriers for candidates.Your personal data will be anonymised when you apply, to ensure that you comply with our anonymisation process, please ensure you have removed your name and date of birth from any attachments prior to uploading them to your application.

Online application forms will only be accepted for this vacancy, online facilities for jobs are available at public libraries within the Dudley Borough.

All applicants must be able to provide documentation to prove their right to work in the UK.

Please note: Dudley MBC does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK.

If you require support completing an online or paper application form and or interview techniques, please contact Dudley Adult and Community Learning on 01384 818 143 or [e-mail] who can support with Digital Skills and Job Applications.

If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application please contact the HR Resourcing Team via [e-mail]

If you are experiencing a problem whilst applying for a position, please follow the link below to the WM Jobs Help Page in the first instance https://help.wmjobs.co.uk/

If the WM Jobs Help Page does not resolve your issue then please contact the HR Resourcing Team via [e-mail]

Dudley Council will check the information that you have provided against any details already held for accuracy and completeness.The Council will check, share and cross match your information both internally within the council and with external organisations to protect public funds and prevent or detect crime, only where the law allows us to do so.

The Council’s full Privacy and Disclaimer Statement can be accessed on the website at http://www.dudley.gov.uk/

N.B.We reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications

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Attached documents
Job Description
Person Specification
Benefits List