Procurement Category Manager

University of Gloucestershire; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Gloucestershire is seeking an experienced procurement professional to support the university’s commercial and procurement strategies. The role focuses on managing a procurement pipeline, planning workload, leading tenders, and ensuring value for money across categories, notably IT, with risk and governance considerations.

You will advise stakeholders, ensure compliance with statutory requirements and support, coach and develop procurement skills within the service.

Qualifications

• Managing a procurement pipeline and planning workload.
• Leading on tenders and supplier and contract management.
• Ensuring efficient and effective delivery, and value for money.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead IT category strategy plans; assess markets, issues and commercial drivers.
• Provide expert advice to stakeholders and ensure compliance with external regulations.
• Coach and develop procurement skills within the Commercial & Procurement Service.

Job description

About the department

The role sits within the CFO function which is responsible for driving the university's commercial, finance, governance, transformation and project management activities. The Commercial and Procurement function is responsible for commercial and procurement activities across the University, ensuring best practice is adopted, resulting in high standards of performance, cost effectiveness, and resource efficiency. The team has leadership responsibility for procurement and, contract management and the institution's commercial and procurement strategies.

About the role

The post holder will support and deliver the University's corporate objectives, commercial and procurement strategies as outlined in the job purpose, this entails managing a procurement pipeline and planning workload, leading on tenders, supporting supplier and contract management, ensuring efficient and effective delivery, managing risk and achieving value for money.

Working with the Head of Commercial & Procurement, you will develop and lead category related strategy plans, including assessment and analysis of markets, issues and commercial drivers. You will have responsibility for the IT category but will also be involved with procurement of other categories as required by the university.

In addition you will provide expert advice to stakeholders at all levels, ensuring compliance with relevant external statutory requirements and directives (including PA23, Freedom of Information, Equalities, Social Value, Sustainability, Modern Slavery, Data Protection regulations etc.) and with the University's internal governance and approval procedures.

You will also be a source of advice and guidance on procurement policy and good practice to faculties and services, promoting awareness and understanding of the role and strategic objectives of the Commercial & Procurement Service and you will support, coach and develop procurement skills within the Commercial & Procurement Service.

Key dates

Closing date: Friday 18th September 2026

Interview date: Wednesday 30th September or Thursday 1st October 2026

£38,784 to £43,482. Grade 7

The University is committed to building a diverse and inclusive staff community and welcomes applications from currently under-represented sections of our workforce. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring that the University is inclusive and accessible. As part of this commitment, we guarantee an interview to applicants who meet the definition of disability set out in the Equality Act 2010 and who meet the essential criteria within the person specification.

The University has also signed the Armed Forces Covenant, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged. For applicants, this means we aim to ensure fair and equitable treatment throughout the recruitment process, recognise and value the transferable skills and experience gained through military service. As part of this commitment, we guarantee an interview to veterans and military spouses/partners who meet the essential criteria within the job specification.