Interim - Category Manager Lethality/weapons

Interim - Category Manager Lethality/weapons

Contract: Initial 6 months, with a significant likelihood of extension up to 12 months
Rate: Variable, Inside IR35
Location: Bristol or London base preferred
Travel: Bristol, approximately once per week, with additional stakeholder meetings and travel as required
The opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a major new, centre-led Category Management function at a time of significant transformation.

The function is being developed to strengthen strategic category management, supporting improved commercial outcomes, supply chain resilience, capability and value for money.

As Category Manager for Weapons and Lethality, you will play a key strategic role in developing category strategies across highly complex and important supply markets.

This is not a traditional end-to-end procurement role. Your focus will be on understanding the market, supply base, stakeholder requirements and strategic risks; developing robust category strategies; and working with delivery teams to support the transition into implementation.

Key responsibilities

You will:

• Lead strategic category management activity across weapons and lethality-related supply markets.
• Develop robust category strategies based on market intelligence, stakeholder requirements and commercial insight.
• Build a deep understanding of complex supplier landscapes and strategic supply chain risks.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen resilience, capability, innovation and value.
• Work closely with senior stakeholders across major programmes and Defence portfolios.
• Influence stakeholders where priorities, data or views are not fully aligned.
• Make informed recommendations and strategic decisions despite incomplete or imperfect data.Conduct market and supplier analysis and identify emerging opportunities and risks.
• Develop compelling strategic recommendations that can be transitioned to delivery teams for execution.
• Support wider adoption of category management principles across the organisation.
• Build effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external industry partners.

About you

We are looking for an experienced and highly credible strategic procurement or category management professional with:

• Significant strategic category management experience.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• The ability to operate effectively where there is not a complete data set.
• A consultative and collaborative approach.
• The confidence to challenge constructively.
• A tenacious, resilient and self-starting mindset.
• A positive attitude and strong work ethic.

Experience within the public sector is welcome but not essential. Strong candidates from private sector, defence, manufacturing or other complex environments will be considered.

The wider role profile requires the ability to influence senior stakeholders, analyse complex information from multiple sources and deliver category management interventions within complex project or programme environments.

Security

The successful candidate must be eligible to obtain and maintain SC Security Clearance.

Candidates may be able to enter the clearance process through the appropriate pre-employment screening arrangements, with SC clearance funded as part of the process where applicable. Applicants must meet the relevant national security and nationality eligibility requirements.

Location

Candidates should ideally be within reasonable commuting distance of Bristol or London.

There is an expectation of approximately one day per week in Bristol, with additional office attendance or stakeholder meetings where required by the assignment.

A one-stage Teams interview is anticipated.