Category Manager (Building / Construction Materials)

CIPS; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent pension plan

Annual leave 28–31 days + Bank Holiday

Westfield Health Cash Plan

Life assurance

Volunteer days

Lifestyle benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

L&Q, one of the UK's leading housing associations, is seeking a Category Manager to join the Property & Investment team. You will lead end-to-end procurement from strategy through to contract award, working with stakeholders to deliver value-for-money contracts and robust procurement solutions that support residents and services.

You will collaborate with operational teams, suppliers and legal advisers to drive commercial value, manage risks and ensure compliant procurement.

Qualifications

• Significant end-to-end procurement experience within a public or regulated procurement environment.
• Strong knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contracts Regulations.
• Experience leading tenders and category-led procurement projects.
• Extensive experience in construction/development sector.
• Extensive knowledge of general buildings materials & procurement packages (Windows, Bricks, Kitchen).
• Excellent project management, analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong MS Office skills.
• Must be a team player and able to work in silo and meet deadlines / procurement milestones.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end procurement projects from strategy through to contract award.
• Develop sourcing strategies, conduct market analysis and deliver compliant, value-for-money contracts.
• Collaborate with operational teams, suppliers, legal advisors and resident representatives.
• Drive commercial value, manage procurement risks and improve supplier performance.
• Support delivery of L&Q's strategic objectives and partner with cross-functional teams.

Skills

End-to-end procurement

Public sector procurement

Tender leadership

Category management

Project management

Stakeholder management

MS Office

Education

MCIPS (desirable)

Tools

e-tendering systems

Central Digital Platform

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Category Manager to join our Property & Investment team who will play a key role in delivering procurement strategies that directly influence homes, services and communities. This is an opportunity to lead high profile procurement projects, shape sourcing strategies, deliver value for money and build strong partnerships across the organisation. You will report to the Senior Procurement and Supply Manager and be part of the Property & Investment Commercial Spoke. This is a chance to play a key role in shaping the supply chain that supports the maintenance and improvement of thousands of homes. You'll lead procurement projects from strategy through to contract award, working with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver compliant, commercially robust solutions that support our Property & Investment and Customer Services teams. Your work will directly contribute to service excellence, operational efficiency and value for money for our residents

Your Impact in the Role

In this role, you'll lead end-to-end procurement projects, developing sourcing strategies, conducting market analysis and delivering compliant, value-for-money contracts. Working closely with operational teams, suppliers, legal advisors and resident representatives, you'll drive commercial value, manage procurement risks, improve supplier performance and support the delivery of L&Q's strategic objectives. You will join a high performing, supportive team of experienced professionals who are passionate about delivering results. Collaboration, teamwork, and mutual support are at the heart of how we work and we step up for one another, share expertise, and work together to overcome challenges and see projects through to successful outcomes.

Required Skills & Experience

• Significant end-to-end procurement experience within a public or regulated procurement environment
• Strong knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contracts Regulations
• Experience leading tenders and category led procurement projects
• Extensive experience & knowledge of construction/development sector
• Extensive knowledge of general buildings materials & specialised packages in relation to procurement such as Windows, Bricks, Kitchen etc
• Excellent project management, analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong Mictosfot Office Skills
• Must be a team player & also to work in silo and meet deadlines / procurement milestones set out

Desirable

• MCIPS qualified, working towards MCIPS or willingness to study to a minimum of Level 4 - Diploma
• Advanced Practitioner status for the Procurement Act 2023
• Experience with e-tendering systems and the Central Digital Platform

We're one of the UK's leading housing associations and developers. We were founded on a simple belief: high quality housing is vital for people's health, happiness and security. Our purpose is simple - to provide social homes and landlord services that everyone can be proud of.

250,000 people call our properties 'home', and we're proud to serve diverse communities across London, the South East and North West of England. People are at the heart of our business and our success depends on employing the best people and getting the best from them.

The foundation of everything that we are is built on our corporate values, which outline our core expectations and should be demonstrated at all times, and all levels, when representing L&Q - At L&Q, we know that diversity and inclusion make us stronger - and they're at the heart of everything we do. When we recruit, we look at what really matters: your skills, experience, and potential. We're proud to be recognised for creating an inclusive workplace. We're a Disability Confident Leader (Level 3) and we've introduced our own Recruitment Advocate scheme to make sure every step of our hiring process is fair, transparent, and consistent. It's all part of our commitment to ending discrimination and making L&Q a place where everyone feels welcome.

Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do. We recognise the responsibility we hold as one of the UK's largest housing associations.

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract/Secondment until December 2027, Full Time, 35 hours Salary: £57,094 per annum to £63,032 per annum (London weighted salary) or £49,502 per annum to £55,106 per annum (Regional salary), dependant on experience.

• Excellent pension plan (up to 6% double contribution)
• 28 days Annual Leave rising to 31 days with length of service + Bank Holidays
• Westfield Health Cash Plan
• non-contributory life assurance
• up to 21 hours volunteering paid days
• lifestyle benefits
• Employee Assistance Programme
• and many more ...