Category Manager
Location: Trafford Council, Sale Waterside Centre, 1 Waterside, M33 7ZF
Salary range: Band 9 10 SCP 33 39 (£44,075 to £50,269)
Trafford council is a Living Wage Employer.
Working Pattern: Full time
Working hours: 36.25 hours per week
We will offer flexibility where we can. If interested, speak to the recruiting manager.
Many colleagues can work from home for one or more days a week and/or flex hours. Known as SMART working.
Contract type: Permanent
Application deadline: 14 December 2025
Interview date: Week commencing 15 December 2025
About STAR Procurement
Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Knowsley and St. Helen’s have a ground‑breaking, strategic, shared procurement service, STAR Procurement. STAR Procurement has been established for over 10 years and we continue to deliver exceptional results for our partners. Our STAR Business Plan shows our direction of travel, the importance of collaboration and the key role that procurement plays in delivering collaborative transformation.
We now have an opening within the team for a Category Manager.
In return for your contribution and commitment you can expect an excellent package, investment in training and development, and the opportunity to shape your career in an environment where the strategic significance and positive impact of procurement is recognised. Further, involvement in a shared service which works closely with the rest of Greater Manchester (GM) and other local authorities will give successful candidates the opportunity to work across the public sector.
If you can match our enthusiasm to succeed, are looking for a new challenge and want to make a real contribution to our success, we would like to hear from you.
About the Role
We’re looking for commercially minded individuals to lead procurement activity and provide quality procurement advice to our customers across a wide range of subject areas.
The main priorities are detailed within the role profile.
We are asking candidates to submit their CV and a covering letter.
Your CV must demonstrate experience which enables you to meet the role described and hit the ground running. The covering letter should detail how specific transferable skills detailed in your CV enable you to meet the main priorities of the Role and the ‘About you’ description below.
About you
Your style and approach will reflect STARs values and behaviours: you will be committed to continually learning & improving the way you do things to ensure effective outcomes; you will take ownership of your actions and strive to getting things right first time and learn from when things do go wrong; you will enjoy taking personal responsibility to resolve issues and change what you do and how you do it to make a difference.
You’ll also be able to demonstrate experience in leading procurement activity within the public sector context, working at pace when required, and be prepared to work across multiple clients and projects at any one time.
Your personality should reflect the Councils EPIC values and behaviours. You will:
* E: Empower staff to be confident to decisions through support, training and guidance
* P: People Centred by valuing all people within and external to STAR and will act with honesty and integrity
* I: Inclusive by valuing and respecting the diversity and richness difference brings
* C: Collaborate through equality and working together to get things done
About us
Trafford Council and its partners in the public, private and third sectors have a Vision which sees us working together to close inequality gaps and maximise Trafford’s huge potential.
Our vision: Trafford where all our residents, businesses and communities thrive.
Trafford is a lively, prosperous place to put down roots and build a career. The council and Trafford schools employ around 8,000 people, who are central to making the area great. In return for their commitment, the council offers its employees development opportunities, as well as a fair and flexible workplace. The council is a Living Wage Employer.
Additional Information
Please note the advert may close early if we receive a high number of applications so, please do not delay in submitting your application.
You will have flexibility in terms of hybrid working at home and in the office, as well as customer offices when required.
Contact Details
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Michael Crook on 07773578366 or email michael.crook@star-procurement.gov.uk
About the Benefits
You will be welcomed into a friendly environment where your personal and professional development will be encouraged. You will have the opportunity to work and grow in a people‑centred and values‑based organisation that promotes a positive permission culture. Your opinions matter so you will have the opportunity to shape how we do things here at Trafford.
To learn more about Trafford as a place to work visit and view more about our awards and benefits.
Other Relevant Information
Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment – greater.jobs
For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK. If in doubt please visit the following link: Employers' right to work checklist – GOV.UK. Please note we are not a licensed sponsor and we won’t be able to support with your work visa.
Privacy Notice – The Council needs to hold and process information about employees, workers and other individuals as appropriate, for various reasons. With the General Data Protection Regulations coming into force we have in place a new privacy notice for staff, contractors, volunteers, trainees, those on work experience and job applicants. To find out more, please click here: Recruitment & Employment Privacy Notice (trafford.gov.uk)
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