Category Manager (STEM)

UK Dementia Research Institute; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The UK Dementia Research Institute is seeking a Category Manager to lead procurement strategies that align with sustainability goals. The ideal candidate will have a strong commercial background, experience in contract management, and a collaborative approach to stakeholder engagement. This role offers significant opportunities for impact within a leading institution and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

41 days holiday

Defined benefit pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

On-site nursery and gym

Employee assistance programme

Qualifications

• Proven track record in delivering impactful plans and metrics.
• Experience managing small to medium tenders and contract negotiations.
• Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Develop procurement plans aligning with category needs and sustainability.
• Manage competitions and advise on compliance matters.
• Drive non-pay savings initiatives and improve business processes.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Collaboration

Negotiation

Supplier performance monitoring

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

We spend £600 million per year at UCL and are in the process of implementing a new sustainable strategic plan through building a new team. Creating sustainable savings at UCL enables us to allocate funds towards teaching the next generation of rocket scientists or discovering cures for Alzheimer’s or Cancer, aligning with our mission as one of the world's leading universities.

About the role

Please note this role is within the STEMed category. The Category Manager will develop a robust sub-category procurement plan that aligns with both category needs and central commercial drivers, including sustainability. You will impact our division's goals by preparing negotiation strategies to deliver Value for Money (VfM) commercial arrangements, managing competitions, and advising on compliance matters. You will assess demand on existing contracts, develop transition plans for new suppliers when appropriate, and manage the Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) process tailored to different supplier types. Additionally, you will provide line manager support as needed, own and drive non-pay savings initiatives across the sub-category, and continuously improve business processes across faculties through innovative working methods. We welcome applications for part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements. A detailed job description and person specification are available at the bottom of this page.

About you

The ideal candidate will be commercially astute with a collaborative approach to working with internal stakeholders and external suppliers. You should have a procurement or commercial background, hold a degree or equivalent experience, and demonstrate a track record of delivering impactful plans, metrics, and targets. Experience managing small to medium tenders, including contract negotiations, SLAs, and drafting contracts, as well as monitoring supplier performance, is essential.

What we offer

In addition to exciting opportunities, we offer a range of benefits, including:

1. 41 days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, and 6 closure days)
2. Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
3. Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
4. Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
5. Immigration loan
6. Relocation scheme for certain posts
7. On-site nursery and gym
8. Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay
9. Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
10. Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits for more information.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we value diversity as a driver of creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, fairness, and inclusivity. We particularly encourage applications from candidates who are underrepresented in UCL’s workforce, including individuals from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ individuals; and women applying for Grade 9 and 10 roles.

Attached documents are available via links. Clicking a document link will initiate its download.