Category Manager

s1jobs; Easterton; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Career progression opportunities

Professional development

Job summary

s1jobs is seeking a Category Manager to lead and deliver complex, regulated procurement across multiple sites in a highly regulated public sector environment. You will manage end-to-end procurement, ensure compliance, drive value for money, manage risk and foster innovation.

You will develop category strategies, lead supplier relationships, support governance and audits, and mentor a small procurement team.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in professional procurement, ideally in the public sector.
• Knowledge of procurement regulations and best practice.
• Experience delivering category management strategies.
• Experience managing complex end-to-end procurement projects.
• Stakeholder engagement and influencing across multiple business areas.
• Previous line management or team leadership experience.
• Proactive problem solver with strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement projects from strategy development through to tender, evaluation and contract award.
• Develop and implement category management strategies aligned to organisational objectives.
• Manage supplier relationships and support contract management practices.
• Ensure compliance with public sector procurement regulations and governance policies.
• Line manage and develop a small team of Procurement Specialists.
• Drive cost-saving initiatives through strategic sourcing and continuous improvement.
• Advise stakeholders on procurement best practice across operations, corporate, and infrastructure.
• Support audit processes and contribute to procurement governance and reporting.
• Embed sustainable procurement including social value and environmental impact.
• Analyse spend data to inform procurement decisions and strategy development.
• Represent the procurement function internally and with suppliers.

Skills

Category management

Stakeholder engagement

Line management

Procurement regulations

Analytical skills

IT skills

MCIPS (qualification)

Public procurement

Education

MCIPS qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Your new role

As Category Manager, you will play a key role in leading and delivering complex and regulated procurement activities across a diverse portfolio of goods, works and services within a multi-site organisation. Operating within a highly regulated public sector environment, you will be responsible for end-to-end procurement processes, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation while achieving value for money, managing risk, and driving innovation.

Key Responsibilities Will Include

• Leading procurement projects from strategy development through to tender, evaluation and contract award
• Developing and implementing category management strategies aligned to organisational objectives
• Managing supplier relationships and supporting the development of contract management practices across the business
• Ensuring compliance with public sector procurement regulations and internal governance policies
• Line managing and developing a small team of Procurement Specialists
• Supporting organisational efficiency and cost-saving initiatives through strategic sourcing and continuous improvement
• Advising stakeholders across operational, corporate, and infrastructure functions on procurement best practice
• Supporting audit processes and contributing to procurement governance and reporting
• Embedding sustainable procurement practices, including social value, environmental impact and community benefits
• Analysing spend data to inform procurement decisions and strategy development
• Representing the procurement function internally and externally, including engagement with suppliers and stakeholders

This is a highly visible role that requires strong stakeholder engagement, influencing skills, and the ability to operate both strategically and operationally within a fast-paced environment.

What You'll Need To Succeed

• Significant experience within a professional procurement role, ideally within the public sector
• Strong working knowledge of procurement regulations and best practice
• Experience of developing and delivering category management strategies
• Proven ability to manage complex procurement projects end-to-end
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and influencing across multiple business areas
• Previous line management or team leadership experience
• Strong analytical and IT skills, particularly across Microsoft Office tools
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach with strong attention to detail

Ideally, you will also hold (or be working towards) MCIPS qualification and have experience in a regulated or multi-site environment.

What You'll Get In Return

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• 35-hour working week (Monday to Friday)
• Hybrid working model with flexibility
• Opportunity to work within a large, complex and regulated environment
• Exposure to high-value and strategic procurement projects
• Leadership responsibilities with scope to develop and mentor a team
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities