Procurement Category Manager

Sefton Council; Ellesmere Port; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Sefton Council seeks an experienced Procurement Category Manager to lead high-value procurement across goods, services, works, and ICT. You will work within the Corporate Procurement Service to shape strategies, deliver compliant, value-driven procurement and drive social and commercial value for local communities.

You will engage with senior leaders, commissioning teams, and external partners, ensuring alignment with the Procurement Act 2023 and Contract Procedure Rules, while delivering

Qualifications

• Qualified procurement professional with experience in public sector procurement.
• Strong knowledge of procurement law and contract procedure rules.
• Ability to communicate with senior leaders and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert procurement advice to services across the Council, ensuring compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the Council's Contract Procedure Rules.
• Lead and support complex, high-value procurement projects from planning and market engagement through to contract award and implementation.
• Challenge existing practices and champion innovative approaches to improve processes and deliver savings.
• Influence strategic commissioning by developing procurement strategies that maximise value for money while managing risk.
• Collaborate with commissioners, contract lawyers, project teams, and external partners to deliver procurement outcomes.
• Support early market engagement activities to inform market opportunities and effective procurement solutions.
• Develop and implement modern procurement and contract management systems to improve visibility and efficiency.
• Prepare and present reports to senior leaders, Cabinet, and committees with procurement recommendations.
• Build networks and represent the Council in regional and national forums on procurement initiatives.
• Deputise for the Head of Procurement when required.

Skills

Procurement expertise

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Education

Public sector procurement qualification

Job description

• Employer: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Pattern: Full Time
• Hours: 36 hours.
• DBS Check: No
• Closing Date: 13/10/2026 at 23:59
• Reference: CorpSC/26/345446

Procurement Category Manager

Shape the Future of Procurement at Sefton Council

Are you an experienced procurement professional looking for an opportunity to make a real impact? Do you thrive on delivering innovative solutions, influencing strategic decisions, and helping services achieve the best outcomes for local communities?

We are seeking a dynamic and forward-thinking procurement specialist to join our team at an exciting time of change and opportunity. Working within the framework of the Procurement Act 2023, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the Council to deliver high-quality, compliant, and value-driven procurement activity across a diverse portfolio of goods, services, works, and ICT projects.

This is far more than a traditional procurement job. The Corporate Procurement Service has a strategic leadership role in Sefton, driving best practice across the whole buying life-cycle, leading on the provision of procurement insight and management information and championing best practice contract management. Category Managers work very closely with their commissioning and contract management colleagues in delivery services, engaging at the earliest opportunity and supporting them through every stage including needs analysis, market engagement, commissioning strategies, sourcing plans, options appraisals, tendering, contract award and supplier performance management.

You will work with senior leaders, commissioners, legal professionals, and external partners to shape procurement strategies, drive innovation, and ensure public money delivers maximum social and commercial value.

This is a challenging and rewarding role, with lots of opportunity for professional and personal development.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a key member of the Procurement Service, you will:

• Provide expert procurement advice and guidance to services across the Council, ensuring compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the Council's Contract Procedure Rules.
• Lead and support complex, high-value procurement projects from initial planning and market engagement through to contract award and implementation.
• Challenge existing practices and champion innovative approaches, identifying opportunities to improve processes, embrace new technology, and enhance service delivery and deliver savings.
• Influence strategic commissioning and spending decisions by developing procurement strategies that maximise value for money while managing risk.
• Work collaboratively with commissioners, contract lawyers, project teams, and external partners to deliver successful procurement outcomes.
• Support early market engagement activities, helping services understand market opportunities and deliver effective procurement solutions.
• Play a key role in the development and implementation of modern procurement and contract management systems that improve visibility, efficiency, and compliance.
• Prepare and present reports to senior leaders, Cabinet, and committees, clearly communicating procurement recommendations and outcomes.
• Build strong internal and external networks, representing the Council at regional and national forums and contributing to collaborative procurement initiatives.
• Deputise for the Head of Procurement when required, demonstrating leadership and professional expertise.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to be part of a professional, ambitious, and supportive team that is committed to continuous improvement and delivering outstanding outcomes for our residents and communities.

You will have the chance to:

• Work on high-profile and strategically important projects.
• Influence how public money is spent and help shape the future of council services.
• Develop your professional expertise in a changing procurement landscape.
• Collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders across the organisation and beyond.
• Contribute to innovative solutions that deliver social value, efficiency, and improved outcomes for local people.

About You

We're looking for someone who is a qualified procurement professional and is passionate about procurement and public service, with the confidence to build relationships, provide expert advice, and challenge constructively when needed.

You will be someone who is highly motivated who enjoys working both independently and collaboratively, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and is committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and customer service.

If you are looking for a role where your expertise can genuinely make a difference and where no two days are the same, we'd love to hear from you.

Please see Appendix A (page 10) for a full copy of the Job Description and Person Specification.

The closing date for this vacancy is Tuesday 13 th October 2026 (or earlier in the event of a high volume of applications being received).

Provisional interview date Tuesday 27th October 2026.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Sefton Council strives to ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of our communities. A diverse workforce is important to us, our staff bring with them a wide range of experiences, views, ideas, and innovations, and we are committed to providing an environment that recognises, respects, and values everybody’s identity, where individual differences are strengths and where everyone can thrive and maximise their potential.We are always open to learning and growing as an organisation, and we welcome new ideas and initiatives that promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer; all candidates will receive equal treatment. Our decision to appoint will be based upon whether an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities make them the most suitable candidate for the role.

Please note that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for these jobs (as given in the Person Specification) and who want to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview.

If you are currently in care or have previously been in care, we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for care experienced people if you meet the essential requirements for the role.