Category Manager

Westworks; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Favourable benefits package

Job summary

Westworks Swindon is seeking a Category Manager for a hybrid role to shape procurement solutions and drive compliance with Procurement Act 2023.

You'll lead development and management of frameworks and Dynamic Markets, collaborate with users and suppliers, and support procurement governance and continuous improvement in a transformation programme.

Join an established program with senior stakeholder engagement, a clear path to add value, and an emphasis on pragmatic, compliant buying practices.

Qualifications

• Excellent working knowledge of PCR 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.
• Proven experience delivering large, above-threshold public sector procurements—ideally in the built environment.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
• Confident managing relationships with senior stakeholders and able to influence change.
• Able to run multiple complex projects independently and to tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, procurement and ongoing management of a portfolio of procurement solutions.
• Shape procurement strategies with market intelligence and performance data.
• Ensure compliance and commercial attractiveness of frameworks and Dynamic Markets.

Skills

PCR 2015 knowledge

Procurement Act 2023 knowledge

Public sector procurements

Commercial acumen

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Change management

Project management

Communication skills

IT skills (Word Excel PowerPoint)

Team collaboration

Values: Respect Trust Unity Resilience

Education

MCIPS qualification

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Category Manager Swindon / hybrid | £60,000 - £65,000 | Full-time, permanent

Shape the next generation of Westworks procurement solutions.

This is an exciting time to join Westworks. We're looking for a Category Manager who shares our enthusiasm for creating something new, and our commitment to compliant but pragmatic solutions for the people who use our arrangements.

What you'll do

You'll lead the development, procurement and ongoing management of a portfolio of Westworks Procurement solutions, including Frameworks and Dynamic Markets. The role brings together category management, strategic procurement, commercial development and market engagement to make sure our solutions are compliant, commercially attractive and genuinely aligned to what our users need now and next. You'll play a key part in our procurement transformation programme — transitioning existing DPS arrangements to Procurement Act 2023 compliant Dynamic Markets and developing the next generation of Westworks frameworks. Working closely with users, suppliers and colleagues, you'll use market and performance intelligence to spot opportunities, shape procurement strategies, and build solutions that increase member value, supplier participation and utilisation. As a senior procurement professional, you'll also provide expert advice across the organisation, contribute to procurement governance and continuous improvement, and help build procurement capability across the wider team. You won't be starting from a blank page. You'll join at an established stage of our transformation programme. The future procurement model has been developed, existing arrangements mapped, priorities set, and the approach to Frameworks and Dynamic Markets defined. You'll inherit a well-developed programme of work, with ongoing support from the existing team and specialist procurement resource through transition and mobilisation.

What we're looking for

Essential

• Excellent working knowledge of PCR 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023
• Proven experience delivering large, above-threshold public sector procurements — ideally in the built environment
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills
• Confident managing relationships with senior stakeholders, and able to shape and influence change
• Comfortable running multiple complex projects independently and at pace, to tight deadlines
• Used to briefing and working alongside lawyers and other professional advisers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail
• Well organised, resilient and collaborative, with solid IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Our values resonate with you: Respect, Trust, Unity and Resilience

Desirable

• MCIPS qualified
• Experience working at a framework provider
• Experience in the built environment

Why Westworks

We're motivated by our vision and values, all framed around delivering excellence for our customers while enjoying the work we do. We also offer a favourable benefits package to support our people. If you want to play a significant part in shaping, designing and delivering our new arrangements, we'd really like to have a conversation with you.

Other organisations may call this role Procurement Category Manager, Strategic Category Manager, Senior Category Manager, Category Lead, Procurement Manager, Senior Procurement Manager, Strategic Procurement Manager, or Procurement Lead.