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- Tasks: Lead procurement initiatives and manage high-value contracts in the housing sector.
- Company: Join L&Q, a leading housing association dedicated to quality homes and community well-being.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28-31 days annual leave, excellent pension, health plans, and paid volunteering days.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in social housing while driving operational excellence and value.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and knowledge of public regulations required.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Benefits include: Excellent pension plan (up to 6% double contribution), 28 days Annual Leave rising to 31 days with length of service + Bank Holidays, Westfield Health Cash Plan, non-contributory life assurance, up to 21 hours volunteering paid days, lifestyle benefits, Employee Assistance Programme and many more.
Join our Commercial Procurement Team at L&Q: We have a fantastic procurement opportunity within a newly formed business structure team, who specialise and focus on procurement delivery, category management and business partnering, while driving forward our vision of operational and commercial excellence, within the Housing Sector. We are seeking for an experienced Category Manager with proven expertise in Maintenance, Repair, and Construction / New Builds, from the housing sector. If this sounds like you, we would love for you to apply!
Your impact in the role: The successful candidate will possess both in-depth knowledge of social housing maintenance, new build construction and demonstrate the ability to deliver results from day one. You will lead on a range of procurement and supply chain initiatives, supporting internal stakeholders across multiple million-pound projects and contract negotiations, while driving operational and commercial excellence. So, if you are a meticulous procurement professional with strong commercial acumen and a passion for both delivering value and best in class then we would love for you to apply.
- Sharp, develop and deliver bespoke category strategies and procurement plans across a wide range of goods and services to maximize value, quality, services and mitigate risk, by alignment of delivered category strategies with business needs and objectives, in accordance with procurement policies and best practices.
- Ensure full compliance with Public Procurement Act 2023 (PA2023) across L&Q's complex internal new build projects and maintenance workstreams in the South and Northwest regions.
- Drive both stakeholder engagement, cost efficiency, and social value through strategic sourcing and market analysis.
- Conduct comprehensive market research and building deep market insight by analysing supply trends, key players and maintain strong supplier relationships.
- Manage and lead on complex multiple-million-pound contract negotiations, showcasing both strong commercial and legally compliant mindset and approach on high-value, high-risk procurement projects from initiation to completion.
What you'll bring:
- Experience in managing end-to-end procurement activity, with a strong understanding of Public Procurement Regulations (particularly within the housing sector and covering both new build construction, maintenance, and repair categories, is desirable and particularly advantageous).
- Proven history in managing complex, high-value procurement projects using various routes to market (frameworks, dynamic marketplaces, open tenders, competitive flexible procedures, etc).
- Expertise in leading tenders and negotiations with both Main contractors, Sub-Contractors and SMEs including supplier performance management.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, collaborating effectively across operational, commercial, finance, and design teams.
- Ability and knowledge of drafting detailed tender and contract documentation (e.g., JCTs and contract templates) including both quality and commercial tender evaluations and negotiations, to produce clear, insightful reports.
- Exceptional communication skills (at all levels).
- Excellent strong contract negotiation, financial and commercial acumen skills.
- A results-driven approach with a commitment to delivery operational excellence.
If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage during this process, including application stage, please email.
About L&Q: We're one of the UK's leading housing associations and developers. We were founded on a simple belief: high quality housing is vital for people's health, happiness and security. Everyone deserves a quality home that gives them the chance to live a better life. 250,000 people call our properties 'home', and we're proud to serve diverse communities across London, the South East and North West of England. People are at the heart of our business and our success depends on employing the best people and getting the best from them. The foundation of everything that we are is built on our corporate values and behavioural framework, which outlines our core expectations and should be demonstrated at all times, and all levels, when representing L&Q.
At L&Q, we know that diversity and inclusion make us stronger - and they're at the heart of everything we do. When we recruit, we look at what really matters: your skills, experience, and potential. We're proud to be recognised for creating an inclusive workplace. We're a Disability Confident Leader (Level 3) and we've introduced our own Recruitment Advocate scheme to make sure every step of our hiring process is fair, transparent, and consistent. It's all part of our commitment to ending discrimination and making L&Q a place where everyone feels welcome.
Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do. We recognise the responsibility we hold as one of the UK's largest housing associations.
Category Manager employer: London and Quadrant Housing Trust
Contact Detail:
London and Quadrant Housing Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the housing sector and let them know you're on the hunt for a Category Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching L&Q and their procurement strategies. Show us that you understand their mission and how your experience aligns with their goals. Tailor your responses to highlight your expertise in maintenance, repair, and construction.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Since this role involves managing complex contracts, be ready to discuss your past experiences in negotiations. We want to see how you can deliver value while ensuring compliance with procurement regulations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! Early applications are encouraged, so get your application in as soon as possible. This shows your enthusiasm and commitment to joining our team at L&Q.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in procurement, especially in the housing sector. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Expertise: When detailing your experience, focus on your knowledge of Public Procurement Regulations and your success in managing high-value projects. We love seeing concrete examples of how you've delivered results, so be specific about your contributions.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications at a glance.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We encourage early applications as we may close the advert sooner than expected. Head over to our website and get your application in – we can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at London and Quadrant Housing Trust
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of social housing maintenance and new build construction. Familiarise yourself with the Public Procurement Act 2023, as well as any recent trends in procurement within the housing sector. This will show that you're not just a candidate, but someone who understands the industry inside out.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past roles where you've managed complex, high-value procurement projects. Highlight your experience with various routes to market and how you've successfully negotiated contracts. This is your chance to demonstrate your commercial acumen and results-driven approach.
✨Engage Stakeholders
Think about how you've collaborated with different teams in previous roles. Be ready to share examples of how you've effectively engaged stakeholders across operational, commercial, finance, and design teams. This will illustrate your strong stakeholder management skills and your ability to tailor procurement solutions to meet diverse needs.
✨Communicate Clearly
Exceptional communication skills are key for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when discussing complex topics like tender documentation and contract negotiations. Being able to convey your ideas effectively will set you apart from other candidates.
