Category Manager - Marketing & HR

Talent Drive | B Corp; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Drive | B Corp is seeking a Category Manager – Marketing & HR to lead category strategies for Marketing, HR and related indirect spend within a public-sector organisation. You will oversee end-to-end procurement, including market engagement, sourcing, tendering, negotiation and contract award, while guiding recruitment and temporary labour initiatives.

The role emphasizes strong stakeholder engagement, governance compliance, and driving cost savings through supplier performance

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Category Manager / Senior Procurement Manager in the public sector.
• Strong experience in indirect procurement, including Marketing, HR, Recruitment or Professional Services.
• Experience managing complex tenders and end-to-end procurement projects.
• Experience in recruitment/temporary labour procurement is advantageous.
• Strong stakeholder management, negotiation and analytical capabilities.
• Good understanding of public-sector regulations and governance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies across Marketing and HR.
• Lead end-to-end procurement from market engagement to contract award.
• Manage recruitment services re-tender and temporary recruitment.
• Support brand marketing procurement framework development.
• Drive supplier performance, cost savings and continuous improvement.

Skills

Category management

Public sector procurement

Indirect procurement

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Job description

Category Manager - Marketing & HR

Location: Berkshire - 1 day per week in the office, 4 days remote

Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 per annum

Sector: Public Sector

Working Pattern: Hybrid / Remote

Are you an experienced Category Manager with a strong background in public-sector procurement and indirect categories?

We are working with a leading public-sector organisation that is looking to appoint a Category Manager – Marketing & HR to take ownership of key strategic categories and deliver commercial value across the organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an established procurement function at a time of significant activity, including an upcoming re-tender of recruitment services.

The Role

As Category Manager, you will develop and implement category strategies across Marketing, HR and associated indirect spend, working closely with stakeholders to ensure effective procurement, supplier management and commercial outcomes.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering category strategies across Marketing, HR and related indirect categories.
• Leading end-to-end procurement activity, from market engagement and sourcing through to tender, negotiation and contract award.
• Taking a leading role in the upcoming re-tender of recruitment services, including temporary recruitment.
• Supporting the development and implementation of a brand marketing procurement framework.
• Managing supplier relationships and driving performance, value and continuous improvement.
• Building strong relationships with internal stakeholders and providing expert commercial and procurement advice.
• Identifying opportunities for cost savings, efficiencies and improved supplier performance.
• Ensuring procurement activity complies with relevant public-sector procurement regulations, policies and governance requirements.
• Supporting wider procurement and category management initiatives as required.

About You

We are looking for an experienced procurement professional who can operate confidently at both strategic and operational levels.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience working as a Category Manager / Senior Procurement Manager within the public sector.
• Strong experience across indirect procurement, ideally including Marketing, HR, Recruitment or Professional Services.
• Experience managing complex tenders and end-to-end procurement projects.
• Previous experience of recruitment / temporary labour procurement would be highly advantageous.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders.
• Excellent negotiation, commercial and analytical capabilities.
• A good understanding of public-sector procurement regulations and governance.
• The ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a wider procurement team.

What's on Offer

• £50,000 – £55,000 salary
• Hybrid working - 1 day per week in Berkshire, with the remainder remote
• The opportunity to work on high-profile strategic procurement projects.
• A varied and commercially focused category management role.
• The chance to make a tangible impact within a leading public-sector organisation.
• A supportive and collaborative procurement environment.