At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead procurement strategies and manage supplier relationships for high-quality outcomes.
- Company: Dynamic organisation focused on delivering value through effective procurement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for career advancement.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous improvement and sector support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in procurement while driving innovation and sustainability.
- Qualifications: Experience in public sector procurement and strong negotiation skills required.
The Category Manager leads the design, delivery, and end-to-end management of assigned procurement categories and framework agreements, ensuring commercial value, regulatory compliance, strong supplier performance, and high-quality outcomes for members. The role combines strategic category and framework development and end-to-end sourcing; with responsibility for the effective mobilisation, operational governance and performance of the framework.
Key Responsibilities
- Category Strategy, Market Insight & Commercial Development: Lead the strategic development and delivery of assigned categories, ensuring frameworks are commercially strong, compliant, scalable, and aligned with member and sector priorities. Use market intelligence to shape category strategies and identify opportunities for value, innovation, and improved adoption. Analyse spend, pricing, utilisation and market risks to inform commercial decisions and highlight areas for optimisation. Provide clear market insight, inflationary analysis, and commercial tools to support strategic planning and decision-making.
- Sourcing, Tendering & Framework Delivery: Plan and deliver end-to-end sourcing projects, ensuring compliance with UK public procurement regulations. Develop sourcing and category strategies, documentation, evaluation and pricing models that reflect member needs and market conditions. Lead supplier engagement, negotiation and award processes to secure commercially robust, high-quality framework agreements. Ensure frameworks are mobilised effectively, with clear implementation plans, communication and handover.
- Framework Governance, Compliance & Risk Management: Maintain strong governance across all frameworks, ensuring documentation, processes and decisions meet audit and regulatory standards. Monitor supplier performance, contractual commitments, KPIs and risk indicators, escalating issues and driving corrective action where required. Manage change control, cost price reviews and contractual variations to maintain commercial integrity and member value. Ensure frameworks remain compliant, up-to-date and responsive to sector changes, regulatory updates and emerging risks.
- Supplier Relationship & Performance Management: Act as the category lead for supplier relationships, ensuring suppliers deliver consistently high performance and member value. Conduct regular supplier reviews, performance assessments and strategic discussions to drive continuous improvement. Use data, KPIs and member feedback to challenge underperformance and support suppliers in delivering agreed outcomes. Promote innovation, sustainability, social value and sector-wide improvements through proactive supplier engagement.
- Engagement, Collaboration & Sector Support: Engage with members to understand needs, gather feedback and ensure frameworks remain relevant and effective. Provide clear guidance, training and communication to support member utilisation and best practice. Collaborate with partners and sector bodies to align category strategies, share intelligence and support sector-wide initiatives. Represent the organisation on working groups, events and collaborative projects to strengthen sector impact and knowledge sharing.
- Data, Systems & Reporting: Ensure accurate and timely updates across procurement, contract and supplier management systems. Use data to monitor utilisation, performance, risk and commercial outcomes, producing clear reports and insights for decision-making. Maintain high standards of data quality, audit readiness and documentation accuracy across all category and framework activities. Support continuous improvement through analysis, reporting and identification of opportunities for efficiency and enhanced member value.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in public sector procurement and complex category management.
- Strong knowledge of UK public procurement regulations.
- Experience designing, procuring and delivering framework agreements and complex sourcing projects.
- Strong experience in supplier negotiation, contract management, supplier relationship management and performance management.
- Ability to interpret complex requirements and translate them into effective procurement and category strategies.
- Strong commercial acumen and data-driven decision-making skills.
- Experience using procurement, supplier and contract management systems.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, influencing and relationship-building skills.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple procurement projects and ongoing framework responsibilities.
- CIPS/MCIPS accreditation or willingness to undertake.
Key Competencies
- Strategic and commercial thinking.
- Category and procurement expertise.
- Supplier and stakeholder management.
- Analytical thinking and use of data.
- Project and framework lifecycle management.
- Communication, influencing and negotiation.
- Attention to detail and data accuracy.
- Governance and compliance discipline.
- Collaborative working and knowledge sharing.
- Continuous improvement.
Procurement Manager in Reading employer: MLC Partners
MLC Partners is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where innovation meets education. With a strong focus on employee development and collaboration, you will have the opportunity to work alongside leading academics and contribute to meaningful projects that shape the future of higher education. The company promotes a culture of inclusivity and support, ensuring that every team member can thrive and grow in their career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Manager in Reading
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like MLC Partners.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Manager in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to MLC Partners:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to MLC Partners. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like MLC Partners.
How to prepare for a job interview at MLC Partners
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at MLC Partners!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at MLC Partners. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into MLC Partners's culture.
