EdIS Programme Procurement Category Manager

Education Authority; Antrim; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector organization in Northern Ireland is seeking a Category Manager to oversee procurement strategies and manage supplier relationships. The successful candidate will ensure compliance with legislation and work on enhancing efficiency and value for money in contracts. This role requires strong leadership and procurement expertise, making it ideal for experienced professionals in the field.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement and contract management.
• Ability to lead a category management team effectively.
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement and supplier relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Manage a Procurement Category for effective strategy delivery.
• Develop and manage a competent category management team.
• Ensure compliance with EA's procurement policies and legislation.

Job description

JOB PURPOSE

The Category Manager will assist the Senior Category Manager and the Head of Procurement to ensure the successful implementation and delivery of a compliant, consistent, and professional procurement service within EA. The Category Manager will be responsible for the effective delivery of fit-for-purpose contracts that maximize value throughout the commercial lifecycle. They will assist in developing and implementing category management strategies to achieve EA's aims, delivering value for money, supply chain improvements, and ensuring procurement compliance with legislation including the Procurement Act 2023, Public Contract Regulations 2015, NIPPP, and PPNs.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES OF THE POST:

1. Manage a Procurement Category to deliver effective strategies based on business needs and emerging trends, and manage contract reviews ensuring performance aligns with KPIs and customer requirements.
2. Develop and manage an effective category management team to ensure competent procurement resources.
3. Develop stakeholder networks for advice and guidance, and manage relationships with EA Departments and customers.
4. Manage strategic supplier relationships to identify performance improvements.
5. Collaborate with other CoPEs to develop category strategies.
6. Develop contract and supplier relationship management strategies as part of procurement activities.
7. Engage in pre-market engagement and market sounding to assess feasibility, capacity, and encourage innovation.
8. Build relationships with procurement professionals from other CoPEs and benchmark best practices.
9. Apply risk management methodologies and support reporting on high-value/high-risk contracts.
10. Understand category expenditure, policy, legislative, and supply issues.
11. Ensure procurement activities comply with EA QMS, legislation, and policies.
12. Provide expert advice on procurement matters across EA.
13. Manage the category team to ensure timely tendering and effective contract management.
14. Plan and manage workload within the procurement pipeline, linking to wider EA processes.
15. Promote efficiency and innovation within EA Procurement.
16. Ensure mandatory use of e-tendering and QMS for all processes.
17. Work collaboratively with other CoPEs to drive efficiency.
18. Provide management information and analysis on contracts and supplier performance.
19. Analyze DAC requests and advise relevant managers.