Head of Procurement - Category Portfolio Lead

Job Title: Head of Procurement – Category Portfolio Lead

Salary: £72,181 – £89,656 per annum

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time, twice a week in office

Location: London

Overview

Our client, a major public sector organisation undergoing a significant transformation programme, is seeking to appoint three exceptional individuals to the role of Head of Procurement – Category Portfolio Lead. These newly created senior leadership positions are pivotal to the evolution of the organisation’s Procurement & Commercial function, which is transitioning to a more strategic, data-driven, and digitally enabled operating model.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-impact team at a critical time, helping to shape and deliver a modern, resilient procurement function that directly supports frontline services and organisational priorities.

Available Portfolios

We are recruiting for three distinct category leadership roles:

• Frontline Operations & Professional Services
• Assets & Estates
• Technology, Collaboration & Complex Transactions

Each role will report directly to the Director of Procurement & Commercial (Chief Procurement Officer equivalent) and will lead a team of category professionals to deliver strategic procurement outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, designing and delivering best-in-class commercial strategies.
• Develop and implement long-term category strategies that drive value, innovation, and operational efficiency.
• Lead complex, high-value procurement projects and negotiations, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships to ensure performance, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing procurement teams, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with relevant procurement legislation, including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.
• Champion sustainability and ethical sourcing practices in collaboration with internal sustainability teams.
• Contribute to cross-functional leadership initiatives and deputise for the Director as required.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for experienced procurement leaders who bring:

• A strong track record of delivering strategic procurement outcomes in complex environments.
• Deep expertise in category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management.
• Demonstrable experience of leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including at executive level.
• A commitment to public service values and delivering positive impact through procurement.
• Knowledge of public sector procurement regulations and best practices.