At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage procurement for professional services and handle multiple projects in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join a major public sector organisation with a focus on growth and development.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, potential for extension, and valuable experience in a regulated setting.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and exposure to complex procurement challenges.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a high-demand category while developing your procurement expertise.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in procurement, strong stakeholder management, and knowledge of public sector regulations.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Location: Reading (minimum 2 days per week on site)
Contract: 6 months, with potential for extension
Rate: £450 per day (umbrella, Inside IR35)
Client: Major Public Sector Organisation
An Interim Category Specialist role, to join a growing Procurement Team, within a major UK organisation operating in a highly regulated and security-conscious environment. You'll take ownership of a varied portfolio of indirect and professional services spend, supporting procurement activity across areas such as engineering consultancy, project and programme management consultancy, and other specialist professional services. This is a busy, high-demand category, requiring someone who can confidently juggle multiple priorities, manage stakeholders at all levels and keep procurement activity moving.
What you'll be doing:
- Managing end-to-end procurement and tendering activity across professional services and related indirect categories.
- Working closely with stakeholders to understand requirements, shape procurement approaches and deliver commercially sound outcomes.
- Managing multiple projects simultaneously, prioritising effectively in a high-volume environment.
- Providing procurement guidance to stakeholders and confidently handling challenging or complex situations.
- Working with existing frameworks and supporting framework call-offs where appropriate.
- Applying public sector procurement knowledge and best practice to procurement activity.
- Working collaboratively as part of a growing professional services and consultancy procurement team.
Requirements:
- 5+ years' Procurement or Commercial experience.
- Proven experience delivering procurements and tendering exercises.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across different levels of an organisation.
- The ability to manage and prioritise a wide and demanding workload, rather than focusing on just a small number of projects.
- A good understanding of public sector procurement regulations.
- Experience or knowledge of relevant public procurement legislation, including PCR 2015 / UCR and the Procurement Act 2023.
This is a great opportunity to join a team going through an exciting period of growth and development. You'll have the opportunity to broaden your professional services category experience and gain valuable exposure to a complex, highly regulated environment.
Please note: Due to the sensitive nature of this role, candidates will be required to hold, or be able to gain and maintain, valid Security Clearance.
Interim Category Specialist - Professional Services £450pd in Reading employer: 1st Executive Ltd
Join a forward-thinking organisation that values strategic insight and innovation in the role of Interim Category Manager - MRO. With a focus on resilience and long-term supply chain strategy, you'll be part of a collaborative work culture that encourages professional growth and offers flexible working arrangements between Bristol and London. This position not only allows you to contribute to critical national programmes but also provides opportunities for meaningful engagement with senior stakeholders and industry leaders.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Category Specialist - Professional Services £450pd in Reading
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Category Specialist - Professional Services £450pd in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show 1st Executive Ltd that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, 1st Executive Ltd can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows 1st Executive Ltd that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let 1st Executive Ltd know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at 1st Executive Ltd
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
