Strategic Category Lead - Technology

1st Executive Ltd; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruiting firm is partnering with Oxford Brookes University to find a Strategic Category Lead. This role involves end-to-end category management in digital and technology services. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership and negotiation skills and will be responsible for delivering significant savings while enhancing service quality. The position is hybrid, based in Oxford, with competitive benefits including a minimum of 25 days holiday and a comprehensive pension scheme.

Benefits

25 days holiday

Hybrid working

Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Excellent communication interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and lead teams.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Undertake responsibility for end‑to‑end category management.
• Lead structural transformation of procurement and supplier performance.
• Develop customer service improvements through relationships with stakeholders.

Skills

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership skills

Procurement governance knowledge

Negotiation skills

Category management experience

Customer service skills

Job description

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

The role

The Strategic Category Lead, in Digital and Technology Services and Place and Space Services, are key strategic leadership roles responsible for defining and implementing best‑in‑class procurement strategies across multiple spend categories.

These roles require a deep understanding of procurement, trends, change management expertise, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders to align procurement with broader University goals.

In addition, these roles have line management responsibility for the Category Managers in either the Academic and Student Services spend category, and the Professional and Business Services spend category or Category Managers in the Teaching, STEM and Research spend category, and the People and Development Services spend category.

Based at our Headington campus and reporting to the Deputy Director of Procurement, the Strategic Category Lead for Digital and Technology and Place and Space Services will be responsible for delivering significant cashable savings from the spend category of at least 20% 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 Strategic Category Lead undertake full responsibility for end‑to‑end category management across the designated spend categories, including, developing and implementing short, medium and long‑term sourcing and category management strategies to deliver cashable savings.
• Lead and assume responsibility for the structural transformation of procurement, contract management and supplier performance in the designated spend categories, including leading, overseeing and managing the 'professionalising' of end‑to‑end procurement and contract management cycle activity.
• Develop, promote, support and implement customer‑service improvements, through building strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and Senior Management to achieve a high standard of customer care.

What skills do I need?

• Excellent communication 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.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and lead cross‑functional teams.
• Strong procurement governance, policy and legislative compliance knowledge and skills.
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to influence key decision‑makers.
• Strong category management experience.
• Strong customer service and customer‑experience skills.
• 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 instil a sense of community offering employees a space for support, guidance and friendship, making it a vibrant and inclusive place to work.