Vacancy title
Senior Category Manager - SEO X3
Closing date
13/03/2026, 16:00
Advertising basis
Permanent
Actual starting salary
£47,675
Salary range or pay band
SEO £47,675 to £56,445
Allowances
Yes – Procurement Allowance
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Group
Corporate Services and Inspectorates
Directorate
Commercial and Procurement
Branch
Procurement Delivery
Location(s)
Pan Wales
Purpose of post
The Welsh Government Procurement Delivery Team (WGPD) directly influences procurement expenditure of circa £1.2 billion. Supporting a blend of Welsh Government specific Procurement, and a wider programme of Welsh public sector collaborative agreements, it delivers policy direction, access to information, best practice, guidance and technical expertise in procurement and contract management across the organisation and the wider Welsh public sector.
Delivered through a category management portfolio, the WGPD seeks to deliver effective commercial outcomes through greater efficiency, supporting the Welsh economy, and embracing the Well‑being of Future Generations Act through the Wales Procurement Policy Statement. The WGPD is part of the Procurement & Commercial Directorate.
Reporting directly to the Commercial Lead the post holder has a key role in the achievement of the overall goals of the WGPD through delivery of a programme of procurement activity across the category.
Key tasks
* Maintaining knowledge and practical delivery of key legislation, PCR 2015, Procurement Act 2023, WBFGA 2015, Social Partnership and Public Procurement Act 2023 as well as the Wales Procurement Policy Statement.
* The post holder will be responsible for management of procurement processes, in the range of the FTS threshold to £200 million per annum which shall include; FTS noticing requirements, setting and agreeing tender strategies, supplier engagement, tender evaluation, contract award, and handling contractual changes, whilst ensuring clear approval mechanisms and controls are in place to demonstrate value for money.
* Identify innovative category strategies and different approaches to procurement that achieve optimum value for money in line with Welsh procurement policy, including maximising the benefit to the economy of Wales utilising market analysis. Strategies should include designing structured project plans setting and delivering target milestones, prioritising tasks, establishing project teams, identifying and managing risk, and evaluating and communicating outcomes and benefits. Early identification and resolution of problems.
* Utilise SAP reports, Atamis and other sources of information to challenge areas of non compliance with existing contracts both within the Welsh Government and the wider Welsh public sector.
* For wider collaborative procurement activity, ongoing management of the procurement category including contract/framework management, Supplier management, MI collection, catalogue management, price reviews, contract negotiation and management of legal issues.
* Use market knowledge and research to develop benefits realisation plans and benchmarking for customers.
* Make a significant contribution to the building of a culture of continuous improvement within the Procurement & Commercial Directorate.
* Communicating key messages and persuading audiences through public speaking, presentations, designing and running workshops, publishing written reports and organising publicity.
* Being able and confident to challenge ‘the way we do things’ – in a constructive, non‑confrontational manner. As a result, is able to convince others to pilot or adopt alternative viewpoints and solutions and stimulate change.
* Line management, mentoring and coaching team members on policies, procedures, practices and techniques equipping them with the knowledge and skills to deliver.
* Represent WGPD on Welsh Government project boards as directed by the Commercial Lead – Category Management.
* Review departure requests and assess based on business and procurement compliance risk, making a decision whether to approve or submit procurement advice recommendation to CGU.
* Deputise for the Commercial Lead – Category Management at meetings and events as and when necessary.
Development opportunities
The high profile of the Commercial Procurement function means that there is exposure to senior officials in the Welsh Government, colleagues from across the whole of the public sector in Wales and a varied range of business representatives.
This post offers the opportunity to become part of a team of procurement professionals within Welsh Government and the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills within a very customer focused team. Development opportunities will also be available within the procurement field. Procurement training will be made available to the successful applicant, and they will be offered the chance to continue their professional training to the required level, once established within the post.
Other vacancy related information
* A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
* A presentation on the Experience criteria will be required at Interview stage. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.
* We will hold an information session for these posts 04/03/26. To register your interest and to be added to the Teams event, please email CPD.BusinessSupport@gov.wales.
* Two of the posts are within our Construction and Facilities Category, while the third is within our People and Corporate Services Category. Subject to change.
* Applicants must be MCIPS qualified (at least level 4), or BSc Quantity Surveying or actively studying towards this.
Vetting level
Basic
Number of posts
3
Contact point for further information regarding the post
Lisa Thomas‑Lewis, cp-s procurement advice@gov.wales
Welsh language requirements
3 – Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, they are however desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.
Understanding by reading – 1 – Can read some basic words and phrases with understanding.
Speaking and being understood – 0 – No skills.
Understanding by listening – 0 – No skills.
Writing and being understood – 0 – No skills.
Success Profiles and Behavioural Requirements
Behaviour 1 – Delivering at Pace
Regularly monitor your own and team’s work against milestones ensuring individual needs are considered when setting tasks.
Behaviour 2 – Leadership
Ensure colleagues and stakeholders have a clear understanding of objectives, activities and time‑frames.
Experience 1 – Understand public sector procurement and contract management approaches.
Strength 1 – Inclusive
Technical 1 – Understands and can explain what a legal challenge is, why they can occur and what can be done to mitigate the risk of a legal challenge, implementing mitigation strategies as appropriate.
Nationality Requirements – The job is broadly open to the following groups:
* UK nationals
* Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the EUSS
* Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Benefits
* Civil Service Pension Scheme
* 31 days annual leave (pro‑rated for part time)
* Training and development opportunities
* Cycle 2 Work Scheme
* Smart Working flexible working arrangement
* Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.
How to Apply
All applications for this vacancy must be made using the online application system. Unless stated otherwise in the 'Other vacancy‑related information for advert', the Welsh Government cannot offer Visa sponsorship. Welsh Government holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
Applications are welcomed from people with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation which represents the diverse communities we serve. There are a number of Diversity networks that staff can participate in, which include the Disability Awareness and Support Staff Network; Minority Ethnic Staff Network; Mind Matters (Mental health and well‑being); PRISM (LGBTI+); Women Together and the Neurodivergence Network.
If you have an impairment which prevents you from applying online, please email our recruitment team. You can:
* request an application pack in an alternative format
* request a recruitment adjustment to help you submit your application
Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address. Check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.
If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.
Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process. For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here.
For TS to G6 recruitment schemes: When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.
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