Senior Category Manager

1st Executive Ltd; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Oxford is looking for a Senior Category Manager to lead strategic procurement efforts across teaching and research categories. The successful candidate will manage high-value contracts and ensure significant cost savings while enhancing stakeholder relationships. This role supports a flexible hybrid working environment and offers competitive benefits, including a Local Government Pension Scheme and extensive employee assistance programs.

Benefits

Minimum 25 days holiday

Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme

Access to discounted gym facilities

Relocation scheme

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong focus on achieving cost savings.
• Experience in category management.
• Ability to engage with all levels of the university.

Responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive category management across designated spend categories.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of the supplier market.
• Lead and manage end-to-end procurement processes.
• Drive enhancements in procurement policy and practice.
• Maintain high customer service for stakeholders.

Skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Strategic thinking

Collaborative working skills

Approachability

Job description

1st Executive is delighted to be partnering exclusively with Oxford Brookes University to recruit 2 key roles within their expanding Procurement team:

The roles

The Senior Category Manager role in Teaching, STEM and Research and in Academic and Student Services are key strategic roles that take on leadership in driving transformation within the category. These roles manage high-value contracts, lead supplier negotiations, and work closely with University stakeholders to deliver value through innovative procurement solutions.

In addition, these roles have line management responsibility for the Category Manager in either the People and Development Services category/ Professional and Business spend category.

Based at our Headington campus and reporting to the Strategic Category Lead, the Senior Category Manager for Teaching, STEM and Research and in Academic and Student Services will be responsible for delivering significant cashable savings from the spend category of at least 15% cashable savings over the next three years, whilst supporting and enabling University colleagues in delivering their savings objectives.

Please see the accompanying Campaign Document, detailed Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

About the team

The Strategic Procurement Team at Oxford Brookes is evolving and redefining the way we deliver services.

Our small procurement team is growing, and moving to a category management approach and structure that aligns with the University's strategic vision and objectives. We are developing a strategic, coordinated procurement approach that improves commerciality, risk management, and service quality across the University, from the c.£50 million that the University spends annually on goods, services, and works, purchased from a multitude of suppliers.

What will I be doing?

• As Senior Category Manager you will undertake comprehensive category management across the designated spend categories, including developing and executing a comprehensive category strategy.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of the supplier market, assessing market conditions, cost drivers, and trends to drive cost reduction and maximise value for money.
• Lead and manage the end-to-end procurement processes in the categories of spend in the designated spend categories.
• Drive enhancements in procurement policy, practice and process across the University delivering innovation and continuous improvement in the delegated or designated spend categories.
• Establish and maintain high customer service to improve the stakeholder experience provided by the procurement function within designated spend categories, ensuring consistent alignment with University objectives and service standards.

What skills do I need?

• Excellent communication and high-level interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, senior management, and external suppliers.
• Strategic thinker with a strong focus on achieving cost savings and continuous improvement.
• Excellent collaborative working skills to foster positive stakeholder relationships.
• Be a highly visible and approachable, and be able to engage with all levels of the University.

About the location

Based at our Headington Campus, you'll experience the vibrant campus atmosphere and benefit from our modern office environment. The campus is one mile from the centre of Oxford and is served by regular public transport. This role will be hybrid and we expect attendance on campus for at least 1-2 days per week, which may increase during 2026 and 2027 as our hybrid working policies evolve over time.

As an Oxford Brookes employee, you will enjoy a total of a minimum of 25 days holiday, rising with your service, plus 8 Bank Holidays and additional University concessionary Days (approx 5 per year).

We encourage and support hybrid working where the role allows and ensure that you have the necessary equipment to allow you to work flexibly.

We have an extremely competitive Local Government Pension Scheme with a 19.2% Employer contribution rate, as well as providing all staff with financial education, a comprehensive employee assistance helpline. We prioritise the well‑being of our employees—both physically and mentally, as well as financially. That's why we provide a diverse and comprehensive benefits package to support our team.

In addition, all employees have access to:

• Discounted rates for the University sports & gym facilities
• Brookes on‑site Nursery.
• Discounted travel options
• Relocation scheme (for moves over 30 miles)
• Training and development opportunities
• Connected community - Brookes have a wide variety of staff networks which instill a sense of community offering employees a space for support, guidance and friendship making it a vibrant and inclusive place to work.