Category Specialist - Place - Ref: RT03925

We Manage Jobs(WMJobs); Walsall; Remote; GBP 42,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority is seeking a Category Specialist to support its Procurement and Contract Management team. The role involves managing multiple procurement workstreams and collaborating with stakeholders to deliver various projects. Ideal candidates will have a flexible approach and a desire to learn about contract management. The position offers remote work and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Manage multiple workstreams across the procurement cycle.
• Work with teams to ensure procurement projects meet local objectives.
• Desire to learn about NEC and JCT contracts.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen capacity to deliver capital and grant funded projects.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide flexible procurement advice for project delivery.

Skills

Flexibility and pragmatism

Ability to manage multiple workstreams

Awareness of NEC and JCT contracts

Job description

Category Specialist - Place - Ref: RT03925

G9: £42,839 - £46,142 per annum

Location: Remote /Walsall

About our Procurement and Contract Management Team

We are pleased to share that following a review and restructure, Walsall Council has a number of new and exciting opportunities in its Procurement and Contract Management team. Our team supports a wide range of service areas across the Council including services for Adult Social Care, Children’s Service, Public Health, Construction, FM, Waste, Fleet, Finance, HR, and ICT to name a few.

With significant changes in public sector procurement with the UK’s Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) coming into force, bringing with it the challenges of a major overhaul of the procurement and contract management rules, and a heightened focus on transparency, integrity and commerciality, this is an ideal time to join our established team and positively impact change.

About our Category Specialist

• be flexible and pragmatic in your approach
• have the ability to manage multiple workstreams across your category area at different stages of the procurement cycle
• work with a variety of teams planning and defining services and ensuring procurement projects meet local objectives to support the Council’s corporate vision of delivering excellent services and improving life chances for all Walsall residents
• have an awareness of NEC and JCT contracts, or a desire to learn

About the Place Category

Our Place Category has two fantastic opportunities available for a Category Manager and a Category Specialist to strengthen our capacity to deliver a wide range of capital and grant funded construction, infrastructure and building maintenance projects.

We work in close collaboration with many key internal and external stakeholders that include Council wide service areas, external professional consultants, end users, framework providers and of course, our valued supply chain.

We are not afraid to think outside the box and challenge the ‘norm’, we pride ourselves on our flexible and pragmatic procurement advice to achieve the most advantageous procurement strategy, and to ensure successful project delivery.

Our projects vary in value and complexity with sometimes challenging timescales. Examples of recent projects include:

• Improvements to Bloxwich Market circa £75k - JCT Minor works - Open - PA 2023
• Redevelopment of Bloxwich and Leamore Parks circa £1m - JCT Minor Works - Single stage further competition via Pagabo DPS
• Refurbishment of a former post office into ‘Bloxwich Launchpad’ circa £1.8m - JCT Intermediate with Contractors Design - single stage further competition via CWM Framework
• SEN School Teaching Block circa £3m - Direct Award via NHS Modular Framework
• New build Household Waste Recycle Centre (HWRC) and Waste Transfer Station (WTS) at Middlemore Lane, circa £32m - NEC option A - Two stage further competition via Pagabo Major Works Framework

In addition to the main corporate projects, we are also supporting the Council to deliver a £1.5b regeneration programme across the borough. Please click the hyperlink for further information: Regeneration and investment | Walsall Council

With a continuous pipeline of works, strengthened by our successful grant bidding team, there are plenty of opportunities to expand your skillset and grow within our team.

If you want to be supported by a passionate and dedicated Category Lead, believe you could add value to our team and you have relevant category knowledge, or the desire to learn, then we would like to hear from you.

It is our intention to notify applicants of their outcome at the earliest opportunity after the closing date, subject to the volume of interest and to interview short listed applicants during week commencing 15th December 2025.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss any of the opportunities available please contact Stacey Hackett, Category Lead for Place at [e-mail]

View Job Description and Employee Specification

Important note

When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. Please see our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time.

Closing Date: Thursday 13th November 2025