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More about the role
We're looking for an experienced Senior Category Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering strategic procurement across the organisation. Leading complex, highvalue categories, you'll drive value, manage risk, and ensure strong commercial outcomes that support our longterm strategic objectives.
Working closely with senior stakeholders, you'll develop and implement category strategies, lead major sourcing initiatives, and design robust commercial and contractual arrangements that enable effective supplier and contract management throughout the lifecycle.
The role is working in our Armitage, South Rings Office in Preston 1-2 days a week
More about you
You're an experienced procurement professional with strong expertise in category management, strategic sourcing, and the design of effective commercial and contractual models. With proven commercial acumen and the ability to engage senior stakeholders, you deliver value, manage risk, and drive sustainable outcomes across complex categories.
The Essential criteria for this role is listed below
1. Significant procurement experience in a public sector environment with strong expertise in category management, strategic sourcing, and commercial strategy development, including the design of robust commercial and contractual models (KPIs, SLAs, performance frameworks, payment mechanisms, risk allocation, indexation, social value requirements, and outcome based specifications) to enable effective post contract management
2. Experience in providing strategic commercial advice to senior stakeholders, influencing requirements, challenging demand, supporting options appraisals (make/buy, insource/outsource, standardisation), and improving compliance to preferred routes and policies
3. Proven leadership experience, including coaching and developing teams and driving high performance.
The benefits
We are a large diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for.
We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:
4. Competitive salary, with a salary review yearly
5. Pension with matched contributions up to 7%
6. Excellent holiday package – up to 35 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell leave
7. Cashback plan for healthcare costs – up to £500 saving per year
8. A bonus scheme for all colleagues at 2%
9. Training and development
10. Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more