Category Manager

Purpose of Job: To be responsible to the Category Lead for Category Manager, providing excellent senior level commercial advice to support the Council to achieve its corporate objectives. Working in partnership with the relevant Department, acting as a key strategic advisor on complex procurement matters, managing procurement projects of high value, complexity and/or risk to the council and to guide and advise the relevant department(s) to achieve the twin objectives of value for money and social value.

Providing expert technical information, advice, guidance and challenge on all aspects of the procurement process to internal customers. Managing relationships with third party partners, and ensuring that any potential risks within procurements are effectively managed to safeguard successful delivery of outcomes. Specialising (although not exclusively) on contracting activity within certain categories of spend or certain classes of contract activity so as to gain familiarity with certain service considerations.

Contributing to Council-wide and service areas initiatives that will achieve and implement the corporate objectives. Providing effective:

• Procurement programme and risk management
• Application of corporate procurement standards and controls
• Management of people, resources and operations as may be required for identified key procurement projects within the service areas.

Main Duties: To work alongside the Category Lead in the service area you are allocated to develop and implement category procurement strategies and develop and implement robust forward procurement plans, including setting targets which contribute to the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Strategy and other key Council policies.

To provide expert strategic procurement and contract management advice to senior managers and officers across the Council. To provide contractual advice and lead end-to-end procurement processes across the Council including complex and high value contracts, acting in the role of Category Manager as a key member of the project team.

To provide quality advice and guidance to internal customers on all aspects of the procurement process, supported by expert technical knowledge including relevant legislation and best practice. To apply the tools and techniques of strategic sourcing to achieve business outcomes through sound market analysis, commercial acumen and strategy formulation, resulting in improved quality of services and/or financial savings and, in all cases, value for money.

To work closely with stakeholders to ensure procurement activity meets business needs, while providing objective advice and guidance, for instance in tender evaluation and moderation. To manage multi-disciplined teams to achieve a common outcome and to provide guidance and supervision to Procurement Officers assigned to support projects.

Ensure procurement exercises are compliant with requirements such as with National Rules (Procurement Act and/or Provider Selection Regime) and the Social Value Act, plus additional wider Council objectives including Sustainability and Fair Tax.