Category Manager (Construction)

Scotland Excel is the Centre of Procurement Expertise for the local government sector in Scotland. Established in 2008, their remit is to work collaboratively with the 32 local authority membership in Scotland and suppliers to raise procurement standards, secure best value for customers and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public sector procurement in Scotland.

Scotland Excel develops and manages collaborative contracts for products and services where a strategic requirement is identified across their sector. They facilitate the development and sharing of best procurement practice and take an active role in ensuring that the needs of their sector are understood within the wider landscape of procurement reform.

They are seeking to strengthen the portfolio of construction contracts developed for use by their members and therefore are seeking to recruit a Category Manager to lead the team on strategic sourcing activities. In this role, you will provide leadership to a team of procurement professionals with a focus on bringing knowledge, expertise and practical experience to tackling the challenges current to the work Scotland’s local government community do with the construction sector.

You will manage high‑value Category B contracts, develop and implement sourcing strategies, and build strong relationships with key stakeholders. The role includes leading User Intelligence Groups, identifying new supply opportunities, negotiating with suppliers, and ensuring full compliance with procurement legislation and organisational policies.

You will oversee the end‑to‑end procurement process, drive continuous improvement, monitor supplier performance, and support sustainable procurement objectives. As a team leader, you will mentor staff, coordinate workloads and ensure effective, high‑quality contract delivery for local authorities.

We are seeking a highly capable candidate with a business‑related degree or equivalent qualification, ideally holding or working toward full CIPS membership. You will have a blend of experience gained from the public or private sector, will have a well-developed understanding of construction contracting practices and public procurement legislation and significant experience in a regulated procurement environment.

The ideal candidate will be skilled in using Microsoft Office and procurement‑related systems, comfortable applying e‑technologies, and able to interpret financial information with confidence. We are looking for someone who can plan, organise, influence and communicate effectively, demonstrating proven leadership, sound decision‑making abilities and practical people‑management experience.

If you are an experienced individual with a strong and proven track record of delivery within a construction procurement and contracting environment this could be your next career move. Join Scotland Excel in striving to bring an innovative and well executed range of contracts into being and to work in collaboration with others to make lives of people across Scotland better.

When joining Scotland Excel, you will have access to a fantastic range of benefits including a hybrid and flexible approach to work which can include a nine-day fortnight, a defined benefits pension scheme, generous holiday allowance and opportunities for professional development.

If you’re excited by the chance to influence nationally and drive meaningful change across Scotland’s public services, we’d love to hear from you. Scotland Excel is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. Candidates with disabilities who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview; please let us know when applying.