Procurement Category Specialist

St. James’s Place; Cirencester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days' annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Generous Pension Scheme

Job summary

St. James’s Place is seeking a Procurement Category Specialist to support sourcing and category management across our Services category.

You’ll lead sourcing projects, negotiate with suppliers, manage contracts, and identify cost-reduction opportunities across HR, Marketing, Facilities, and other indirect spend areas. This role works with stakeholders to meet governance and regulatory requirements while delivering effective sourcing outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management or vendor management within a services-related category.
• Proven experience leading supplier negotiations and managing contracts.
• Understanding of pricing models for people-based services such as Marketing, HR, Legal or Professional Services.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build effective working relationships.
• Experience using procurement systems and sourcing platforms, such as MarketDojo.
• CIPS qualified, working towards a CIPS qualification, or qualified through relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering sourcing and negotiation strategies within your assigned spend areas.
• Supporting the development of category plans and owning delivery of agreed procurement activities.
• Identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve supplier arrangements through spend analysis and market research.
• Leading RFx activities, including eAuctions, supplier evaluations and commercial negotiations.
• Managing contract negotiations, renewals and sourcing projects in partnership with stakeholders and Legal teams.
• Working with business stakeholders to understand current and future requirements.
• Monitoring supplier performance against agreed service levels and key performance indicators.
• Applying supplier risk management processes and ensuring compliance with internal procurement policies.
• Maintaining accurate procurement records, including contracts, sourcing activity and savings tracking.
• Ensuring procurement activity complies with relevant regulatory, legal, data privacy and security requirements.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Sourcing strategy

Data analysis

Communication

Vendor management

Education

CIPS qualification or working towards

Tools

MarketDojo

Job description

Posted on: 24/08/2026 – Application Deadline: 07/09/2026

Are you ready tochart your own career path? With our refreshed strategy, we’re building on our rich heritage and transforming our business to be more scalable and efficient, unlocking the capabilities needed for future success.This includes significantly investing in technology, streamlining the way we work and creating an environment where colleagues feel engaged, empowered and accountable; where they can show up, speak up and perform - because we believe in the difference our work makes.

At a glance:

Location: Cirencester Office

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Employment Type: 9 month Fixed-Term Contract

Seniority: Associate

About the Role

We're looking for a Procurement Category Specialist to support sourcing and category management activities across our Services category. Working alongside the Category Manager, you'll lead sourcing projects, negotiate with suppliers, manage contracts, and identify opportunities to reduce costs across all areas of indirect spend (e.g. HR, Marketing, Facilities, Professional Services, Travel and Events).

This role works closely with stakeholders across the business to understand requirements, ensure procurement activity meets regulatory and governance requirements, and deliver effective sourcing outcomes. You'll have responsibility for your own areas of spend while contributing to wider category plans and supplier management activities.

What You'll Be Doing

• Developing and delivering sourcing and negotiation strategies within your assigned spend areas.
• Supporting the development of category plans and owning delivery of agreed procurement activities.
• Identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve supplier arrangements through spend analysis and market research.
• Leading RFx activities, including eAuctions, supplier evaluations and commercial negotiations.
• Managing contract negotiations, renewals and sourcing projects in partnership with stakeholders and Legal teams.
• Working with business stakeholders to understand current and future requirements.
• Monitoring supplier performance against agreed service levels and key performance indicators.
• Applying supplier risk management processes and ensuring compliance with internal procurement policies.
• Maintaining accurate procurement records, including contracts, sourcing activity and savings tracking.
• Ensuring procurement activity complies with relevant regulatory, legal, data privacy and security requirements.

About You

You have experience in procurement, strategic sourcing or category management and are comfortable managing sourcing activities from planning through to contract award. You can build productive working relationships with stakeholders and suppliers, and you're confident leading negotiations and managing competing priorities. You'll be able to analyse information, assess options and make recommendations that balance cost, risk and business requirements.

• Experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management or vendor management within a services-related category.
• Proven experience leading supplier negotiations and managing contracts.
• Understanding of pricing models for people-based services such as Marketing, HR, Legal or Professional Services.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build effective working relationships.
• Experience using procurement systems and sourcing platforms, such as MarketDojo.
• CIPS qualified, working towards a CIPS qualification, or qualified through relevant experience.

What's in it for you?

Whatever stage of life you're in, our benefits are designed to provide the support, flexibility, and peace of mind you need to thrive both at work and beyond.

In addition to our discretionary annual bonus scheme, which reflects both individual and company performance, you'll benefit from a market-leading benefits package tailored to support your wellbeing, financial security, and family life.

Our benefits include:

• 28 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days.
• Private Medical Insurance – company-funded cover for you and your immediate family
• Generous Pension Scheme – a non-contributory employer contribution of 10%, increasing with length of service up to 15%, plus the opportunity to increase this through salary sacrifice
• Enhanced Parental Leave – up to 26 weeks' full pay to support growing families.
• Protection Benefits – company-funded critical illness cover, income protection, and life assurance
• EV salary sacrifice scheme through Tusker

Reasonable Adjustments

We're an equalopportunities employer and want to ensure our recruitment process is accessibleand inclusive for all.