Category Manager in Shrewsbury

You will work closely with key stakeholders including business unit service directors and heads of service, and provide strategic, commercial and specialist procurement support for a range of different requirements to deliver their business unit plans. You will grow stakeholder relationships and their understanding of procurement to promote the benefits of early market engagement to inform contract scoping and sourcing strategies to achieve overall value for money and compliance.

You will have a customer focused approach to directly lead, or support Category Specialists and Assistant Category Specialists, on end-to-end procurement, commercial and contracting strategies for goods, works and services within a nominated category of spend. You will need experience of leading the development and delivery of procurement strategies and programmes of work across a diverse range of areas of spend.

You will have knowledge and understanding of different forms of contract and public sector procurement legislation and demonstrable evidence of deploying the range of established sourcing routes (e.g. compliant frameworks and routes to market) available for contracts to support public sector or complex organisations in the delivery of services.

Shropshire Council is a unitary authority which serves the rural county of Shropshire. One of the most important things about working here is the knowledge that you're working to help others and the real sense of achievement and purpose that brings. The people of Shropshire are rightly proud of their county's assets, its natural beauty, its history, its diverse economy, its vibrant culture. We want to enable a skilled, happy, healthy, diverse, inclusive, empowered, and proud workforce that influences and leads change, addressing any inequalities.

As part of Shropshire Council's transformation programme, it is investing in a new structure for Procurement and Contracts. This is an exciting time to join the council to be part of its journey in building a new team and to be part of a council that is making significant strides and improvements for its residents to ensure value for money, and good quality services are delivered.

As a member of the Procurement and Contract Team within Commissioning Development and Procurement you will support the achievement of these key priorities, making a real difference to the lives of people in Shropshire.

We value our employees and offer staff rewards and plenty of opportunities for personal development, apprenticeships and career progression including:

• Generous annual leave commencing at 28 days increasing with service to 33 days (pro rata for part time), with additional annual leave purchase policy.
• Access to a benefits platform with a wide range of retail discounts and salary sacrifice schemes (cars, bikes, AVCs).
• Employer contribution Pension Scheme Shropshire County Pension Fund.
• Supportive carers and parental policies (maternity, paternity, adoption leave, special leave).
• Many opportunities for flexible and agile working, we offer a hybrid model of working to promote flexible working around personal and family commitments.