At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic category management for weapons and lethality, developing robust strategies and stakeholder relationships.
- Company: Join a major new centre-led Category Management function during a transformative phase.
- Benefits: Competitive contract rate, potential for extension, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic setting with the possibility of SC Security Clearance.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a complex environment while enhancing supply chain resilience and innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic category management and exceptional stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
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:
- 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.
Interview process: A one-stage Teams interview is anticipated.
Interim - Category Manager Lethality/weapons in London employer: 1st Executive
As a Senior IT Supplier Manager in Leeds, you'll join a dynamic and supportive work culture that values innovation and collaboration. The company offers competitive compensation, including bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package, while providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development within a large, complex organisation. With a focus on strategic influence and genuine ownership of supplier relationships, this role is perfect for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the technology sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim - Category Manager Lethality/weapons in London
✨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 Manager Lethality/weapons in London
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 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 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 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 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
✨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.
