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- Tasks: Lead strategic procurement projects and manage key categories to deliver value.
- Company: Join ESPO, a unique public sector organisation with a commercial edge.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the public sector while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree or equivalent experience in procurement; MCIPS membership preferred.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a commitment to diversity and career growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: Friday 20 March 2026
If you are looking for an exciting and challenging opportunity to work within the public sector for an organisation with a commercial edge, then ESPO is the place for you. We are seeking highly motivated procurement professionals who are eager to develop their careers and contribute to our mission of delivering outstanding value for our customers across the public sector. We currently have several Category Manager vacancies within our Procurement Division. These roles sit at the heart of ESPO’s successful and growing portfolio of frameworks, offering the opportunity to lead strategic procurement projects, manage key categories and shape innovative solutions for our customers.
About the Role
As a Category Manager, you will be responsible for a portfolio of frameworks within a specific category area, ensuring they continue to meet customer needs and the latest market developments. You will work closely with stakeholders, building and maintaining strong relationships with both customers and suppliers to maximise the usage of each framework. You will also provide leadership to a small team of procurement professionals, ensuring procurement projects are delivered on time and to plan and in full compliance with ESPO’s processes, procedures and the public procurement regulations.
About You
We are looking for candidates who:
- Have a degree or equivalent qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience and are a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS) or are actively working towards achieving membership.
- Have experience of procurement at an influential level in a medium/large complex organisation and have broad experience across purchasing and supply procedures, including sourcing, tendering and evaluation techniques.
- Can demonstrate practical experience operating within the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.
- Proven track record in conducting and managing procurement processes, influencing the process to best meet objectives whilst seeking innovation, making savings and delivering value for money.
- Possess strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers, suppliers and colleagues at all levels.
- Bring some degree of specialist category knowledge or expertise.
- Able to analyse complex issues quickly and respond, providing advice in a clear, concise and impartial manner as well as negotiating and influencing a range of stakeholders including customers, suppliers and collaborative working partners building relationships to achieve results.
In addition, we expect you to share our commitment to our values and will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the interview process.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English is an essential requirement for this role.
What we offer:
- Flexible working opportunities
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing to 33 days after 5 years service) and a scheme to buy additional leave.
- Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme with a generous employer contribution.
- Fully funded Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS) membership.
- A range of salary sacrifice schemes, including car leasing.
- Extensive learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing professional growth.
- A great office location next to Fosse Park, Leicester, with free on-site parking and easy access to the M1 and M69.
Interested in Flexible Working? We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Kapil Rajput - Email:
How to Apply
ESPO is an inclusive organisation which is on a journey to embed and celebrate equality, diversity, and inclusion at every level. We warmly welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, as having a diverse workforce with different perspectives and ideas is fundamental to our values and enriches the services we offer our customers. We particularly welcome applicants from Ethnically Diverse and LGBTQ Plus communities and people with disabilities to create a balanced workforce and one that reflects the customers we serve. Applicants with a disability who meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Employer Scheme.
To apply for this job, please click ‘Apply Now’. You will need to upload a supporting statement as part of your application which explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Employee Service Centre.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
About ESPO
We're a unique organisation, owned by the public sector and sharing their values and ethos, but operating with a commercial edge. As a specialist procurement body, we pride ourselves on establishing procurement solutions that save money for the public sector. We have modern, open-plan offices with excellent transport links and a friendly workplace environment. We offer flexible working, a generous holiday entitlement, a contributory pension scheme, training (including professional CIPS qualification) and opportunities to develop your career.
To learn more about working for ESPO please visit www.espo.org.
Category Manager in Leicester employer: ESPO - Public Sector Procurement
Contact Detail:
ESPO - Public Sector Procurement Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager in Leicester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the procurement field and let them know you're on the lookout for a Category Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research ESPO's values and mission, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Practise answering common interview questions, especially around procurement processes and stakeholder engagement.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring along examples of your past procurement projects that demonstrate your ability to deliver value for money and innovate solutions. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining ESPO and contributing to our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your experience aligns with the criteria listed in the job description. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to the table!
Showcase Your Procurement Experience: When detailing your procurement experience, be specific about your achievements and how you've influenced processes in previous roles. We love seeing concrete examples that demonstrate your impact!
Communicate Clearly: Use clear and concise language throughout your application. Remember, strong communication is key in this role, so let your writing reflect that. We want to see your ability to convey complex ideas simply!
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as you can through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at ESPO - Public Sector Procurement
✨Know Your Procurement Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your procurement knowledge, especially around the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023. Be ready to discuss your experience with sourcing, tendering, and evaluation techniques, as these will be key topics during your interview.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
Since this role involves building strong relationships with customers and suppliers, prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged stakeholders in the past. Think about specific situations where your communication skills made a difference in achieving procurement objectives.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
As a Category Manager, you'll be leading a small team. Be prepared to share your leadership experiences, focusing on how you've guided teams through procurement projects. Highlight any innovative solutions you've implemented that delivered value for money.
✨Align with ESPO's Values
Familiarise yourself with ESPO's values and be ready to discuss how you've demonstrated these in your previous roles. This could include examples of your commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, which are important to the organisation.