Category Manager x 4

Michael Page; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Job summary

Derbyshire County Council is recruiting four Category Managers to deliver end-to-end procurement strategies across multiple directorates, ensuring alignment with service goals and public sector frameworks.

The role emphasizes pre-market engagement, market intelligence for sourcing, and driving value for money with social value. It involves collaboration with service areas and contract managers, with hybrid working and progression opportunities within the large procurement team.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering end-to-end procurement in a public sector or regulated environment.
• Proven track record developing procurement strategies aligned with organisational objectives.
• Experience undertaking pre-market engagement and using market intelligence to inform sourcing.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the Council's procurement strategy across directorates; ensure alignment with service objectives.
• Develop and deliver project-specific procurement strategies with best value, regulatory compliance and market conditions.
• Lead pre-market engagement to inform sourcing, shape specifications and promote competition.
• Identify and mitigate procurement risks that could impact contracts or services.
• Lead end-to-end procurement processes including tendering, evaluation, award and mobilisation; use public sector frameworks where appropriate.

Skills

End-to-end procurement

Public sector procurement

Stakeholder engagement

Market intelligence

Contract management

Tools

eTendering systems

ERP solutions

Job description

We have partnered exclusively with Derbyshire County Council to recruit 4 Category Managers as part of the growth of their large procurement team.

Client Details

Derbyshire County Council services reach everyone who lives in or visits Derbyshire, which is why we work with our communities to make sure we meet their needs and expectations. This includes their families, their environment, their education, their job prospects and their social needs. The council is divided into 4 strategic directorates, responsible for the following areas: Adult Care: Preventative and wellbeing services; assessment of care needs; home care and day opportunities for older, disabled and vulnerable people; disability equipment and home adaptations; support for carers; hospital discharge services; short term specialist community beds; reablement; falls prevention; in-house residential care homes; community care centres; quality and safeguarding across all residential homes; specialist dementia care; benefits and debt advice; strategic planning and resourcing public services; stakeholder engagement and consultation; care market shaping; commissioning care services; contract management, and performance monitoring. Public Health: reducing health inequalities; promoting healthier lifestyles; improving the health of the population by sharing information and expertise; preparing for future health challenges; providing protection from public health hazards. Children's Services: support for vulnerable families and disabled children; teenage and careers services; children's centres; sports and outdoor learning; school improvement services; school meals; school place planning and building; special educational needs; adult community education; services traded with schools; pre-school and childcare support; safeguarding and child protection; fostering and adoption, and the youth offending service. Corporate Services and Transformation property; finance; Digital Services; corporate HR; legal and democratic services; libraries and heritage; community safety; refugee resettlement; trading standards; 'Trusted Trader'; policy; research; performance; communications including digital and web development, and Call Derbyshire; innovation; strategic commissioning; procurement; strategic partnerships; member and management services; registrar and coroner services. Place: roads; footpaths; public and community transport; road safety; economic development and regeneration; broadband expansion; minerals; transport and strategic planning; emergency planning; household waste recycling centres; waste planning and management; building and landscape conservation; countryside sites; strategic economic partnerships; inward investment; tourism; rail policy; HS2; employment and skills; flooding, and environmental policy.

Description

• Deliver the Council's directorate procurement strategy via actionable procurement activity, ensuring alignment with service objectives and operational delivery
• Develop and deliver project-specific procurement strategies that incorporate best value principles, regulatory requirements, market conditions, and service needs
• Conduct effective pre-market engagement to inform sourcing approaches, shape specifications, understand supplier capability, and promote innovation and competition
• Identify and mitigate procurement-stage risks that could impact contract performance or service outcomes
• Lead and manage end-to-end, (non-complex) procurement processes, including tendering, evaluation, contract award, and mobilisation. Utilise public sector frameworks where appropriate to ensure efficient and compliant routes to market.
• Drive value for money through robust commercial practices and ensure that social value is embedded into procurement processes in line with Council priorities
• Work in close partnership with service areas to co-develop procurement solutions, while building procurement capability and understanding across the organisation
• Identify and address areas of procurement non-compliance by promoting consistent processes, improving guidance and increasing awareness across departments.
• Collaborate with contract managers to ensure smooth transition from procurement to contract delivery, offering continued contract support throughout the lifetime of a contract
• Ensure all procurement projects are supported by completed conflict of interest assessments and that any potential conflicts are appropriately managed and recorded.

Profile

• Experience or exposure to managing end-to-end procurement processes within a public sector or regulated environment
• Proven track record of developing and delivering procurement strategies aligned with organisational objectives
• Demonstrable experience of undertaking pre-market engagement and using market intelligence to inform sourcing approaches
• Experience of delivering value for money, securing social value outcomes, and working with public sector frameworks
• Experience of advising internal stakeholders on procurement legislation, policies, and compliance matters.
• Experience in building positive relationships with stakeholders and working collaboratively across departments to meet operational goals
• Experience using eTendering systems and ERP solutions

Job Offer

• Salary 35,422 - 38,730 depending on experience
• Hybrid working - 1 day per week in the office (Matlock)
• Flexitime - can condense hours to give yourself an extra 2 days off per month
• 27 days holiday rising to 32 with service
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Opportunity to join a large procurement team with excellent opportunities for growth and progression
• Opportunities for CIPS/MCIPS training with time off to study/exams