Principal Category Manager - Site Services

AWE; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A top-tier defense organization in the UK is looking for a Principal Category Manager to lead the development and implementation of category strategies for site services. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, experience in complex environments, and excellent stakeholder management skills. This role offers competitive pay from £60,000 to £90,000 along with a hybrid working model, generous leave policies, and additional benefits, including a pension scheme and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

9-day working fortnight

Market leading contributory pension scheme

Family friendly policies

Professional career development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance

Access to discounts

Special Leave Policy

Qualifications

• Experience in driving high-performance teams.
• Drafting and negotiating complex contracts.
• Managing multiple stakeholders and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies.
• Manage supplier relationships effectively.
• Lead a category team to achieve objectives.

Skills

Category management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

MCIPS (or currently studying)

Job description

Overview

AWE is currently recruiting for an experienced Principal Category Manager to create and implement category strategies and provide leadership to a team that focuses on Site Services, ensuring our sites remain operational.

Managing the end to end Category Management process for a number of categories such as Hard and Soft Facilities Management Services, Transport, Logistical Services, Utilities, Waste Management Services, PPE, Off Site Leasing Arrangements and Small Construction Projects.

Location: Reading (Green Park), with free onsite parking.

Package: £60,000 to £90,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

Ready to play your part?

At AWE, it\'s not just a job, it\'s far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part?

Responsibilities

As the Principal Category Manager, you will be responsible for developing and implementing category strategies, support and execute strategic sourcing activities, and manage supplier relationships.

You will report to the Head of Category - Site Services and lead a category team, driving high performance and setting the direction for the categories ensuring strategic sourcing, contract management and commercial contract management are carried out efficiently, to meet business objectives.

This role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams in AWE and, where applicable, Government stakeholders.

You will be accountable for directing and implementing category strategies for site services sub categories as well as executing the sourcing process, including tendering for multi-million-pound contracts, negotiating large complex contracts, supporting and operating frameworks, and building and managing relationships with senior stakeholders to influence strategy endorsement. As part of your role you will:

• Ensure category strategies, which deliver business objectives, are developed in collaboration with the business and are implemented to deliver benefits (cost reduction) and value to AWE

• Lead the team to ensure alignment with organisational goals, Category Management objectives, regulatory requirements, and market dynamics

• Prioritise activities to ensure efficient delivery of category management initiatives

• Oversees the delivery of sourcing activities throughout, including sourcing strategies and their execution for high value/complex procurements

• Drive strategic decision-making through in-depth market and supplier analysis

• Utilise various forms of contract terms (e.g. NEC, AWE Standard Terms) for the preparation, analysis, negotiation, award and delivery of contracts.

• Development and maintenance of strong relationships with key suppliers to enhance collaboration and innovation, acting as a senior escalation point as required.

• Leading, coaching and developing a team of Category Managers and influencing others at specialism or functional level to create and develop operational plans to achieve Category Management objectives and AWE business priorities

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a motivated category management professional with strong leadership and management skills, and strong stakeholder management skills. An analytical thinker, with excellent communication abilities, and experience in large, complex organisations, delivering and executing category strategies and strategic sourcing. The ideal candidate will have worked in highly regulated environments, understand the importance of governance and have a keen eye for detail.

MCIPS is advantageous, but candidates currently studying or planning to study will also be considered.

Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we'd like you to have experience in the following:

• Category management.

• Managing and driving teams to high performance

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex contractual arrangements, framework agreements.

• Managing multiple stakeholders and priorities.

• Preparing tender packages, conducting tender conferences, developing evaluation criteria, analysing and evaluating proposals, negotiating subcontract provisions, subcontractor selection.

• Working within a strategic Procurement Function.

• Delivering change programmes.

• Working in cross-functional teams across multiple programmes.

Work hard, be rewarded

We ask a lot and set the bar high because our work truly matters. In return we offer balance, with award winning benefits including:

• 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.

• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).

• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.

• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.

• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).

• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.

• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically 2 days onsite per week.