At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement projects and develop category strategies in a dynamic public sector environment.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation committed to sustainability and ethical practices.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Supportive culture with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in procurement while collaborating with key stakeholders.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in public sector procurement and strong supplier relationship skills required.
Location: Reading (2-3 days/week on site)
Contract Duration: 8 Months
Daily Rate: £77.20/hr (Umbrella – Maximum)
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Security Clearance: SC
Essential Requirements:
- Significant Public Sector Procurement experience (5+ years)
- Supplier Relationship skills
- Facility Management (FM) or Works experience (Must have)
- NEC Experience or at least a good understanding of how it operates
- Good working knowledge of how a contract operates
- Must have led/delivered procurement projects in a highly regulated, complex environment.
Project is in Procurement stage - Needs analysis stage to contract stage. Need someone with real ‘doing' experience.
Key Accountabilities:
- Develop and implement Category Strategies for assigned sub-group of categories, balancing short and long-term objectives to meet business strategy and efficiencies (savings) in alignment with business stakeholders.
- Support and execute complex strategic sourcing activities in line with approved category strategies and preferred suppliers list, including the execution of the RFx process, supplier evaluation and selection, contract negotiation, business award and contract handover to the business, in compliance with the business requirements as well as policies and directives, including Code of Conduct and Code of Business Ethics.
- Responsible for contractual and commercial management and effective contract administration to the relevant team providing commercial assurance to deliver commercial value.
- Support and execute Supplier Relationship Management for key and critical suppliers within the sub-group of categories, including supplier segmentation, contract management, supplier risks identification and mitigation and suppliers performance.
- Identify and develop supplier value including planning and participating to external management review meetings with segmented suppliers (Management Business Reviews and Executive Business Reviews) in accordance with Supplier Relationship Management framework and the agreed supplier strategy.
- Support and provide input to the Process and Performance team as appropriate.
- Support the development and interface with the Service Centre.
Key Responsibilities:
- Consistently demonstrating positive behaviours in line with the company's environmental, sustainability, safety, health, security, quality and ethics standards.
- Drive and implement Category Strategy to deliver cost effective category solutions and business models.
- Supplier base management and supplier classification (Preferred Supplier List – PSL), securing competition in the supplier base.
- Implement ways of working according to Category Management Framework including the delivery of Category targets and KPI's for assigned group of spend categories.
- Business Intelligence, benchmark and market insight to support category development.
- The Senior Category Manager, with the sub-category Team, are responsible for securing and tracking cost reduction, contract management and continuity of Supply Chain.
- Prepare & execute the RFx process in collaboration with stakeholders including supplier evaluation and selection, supplier negotiations (costs and contract).
- Contribute to the long-term business ensuring competitive initial cost and total cost development in the product and service life cycle and maintenance of the specific supplier contract for products and services.
- Prepare and execute a Contract which is appropriate to the scope, value and risk outlined in the sourcing strategy, ensuring all relevant stakeholders have contributed and approved as appropriate.
- Administer the Contract in accordance with all of the terms and conditions ensuring contract compliance.
- Ensure appropriate management of commercial risks, forecast spend and change impacts with key stakeholders.
- Suppliers segmented and managed (quality, performance, risk) in accordance with the Supplier Relationship Management Framework.
- Monitor and mitigate supplier risks (including CoC, Environmental & Health and Safety as well as dependency on the organisation and dependency on the supplier), make corrective action plans for the identified risks.
- Supplier Strategies for key suppliers within assigned group of spend categories.
- Secure stakeholders involvement and participation in category strategies, sourcing activities and supplier relationship management activities and share SCM category strategies, PSL, supplier performance etc.
Disability Confident:
As a member of the disability confident scheme, CLIENT guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.
Armed Forces Covenant:
CLIENT is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, we guarantee to interview all veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates/military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.
If you qualify for the above, please notify us on 0121 794 8181. We will be in touch to discuss your suitability and arrange your Guaranteed Interview. Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a more accessible way for us to communicate, please do let me know.
To apply for this role please submit your latest CV or contact Aspect Resources on 0121 794 8181.
Senior Category Manager - SC in Reading employer: Aspect Resources
As a BIM Manager with us, you'll join a dynamic and innovative team that values collaboration and creativity in the heart of Manchester, Sheffield, or Wellingore. We offer a flexible/hybrid work environment, competitive benefits, and ample opportunities for professional growth, ensuring you can thrive while shaping the future of our digital delivery processes. Our commitment to excellence and employee development makes us an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Category Manager - SC 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 Senior Category Manager - SC 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 Aspect Resources 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, Aspect Resources 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 Aspect Resources 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 Aspect Resources 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 Aspect Resources
✨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.
