At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sourcing projects, negotiate with suppliers, and manage contracts to reduce costs.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company transforming its procurement strategy.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days' leave, private medical insurance, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in procurement while developing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement or category management and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
Are you ready to chart your own career path? With our refreshed strategy, we’re building on our rich heritage and transforming our business to be more scalable and efficient, unlocking the capabilities needed for future success. This includes significantly investing in technology, streamlining the way we work and creating an environment where colleagues feel engaged, empowered and accountable; where they can show up, speak up and perform - because we believe in the difference our work makes.
At a glance:
- Location: Cirencester Office
- Workplace Type: Hybrid
- Employment Type: 9 month Fixed-Term Contract
- Seniority: Associate
About the Role
We're looking for a Procurement Category Specialist to support sourcing and category management activities across our Services category. Working alongside the Category Manager, you'll lead sourcing projects, negotiate with suppliers, manage contracts, and identify opportunities to reduce costs across all areas of indirect spend (e.g. HR, Marketing, Facilities, Professional Services, Travel and Events). This role works closely with stakeholders across the business to understand requirements, ensure procurement activity meets regulatory and governance requirements, and deliver effective sourcing outcomes. You'll have responsibility for your own areas of spend while contributing to wider category plans and supplier management activities.
What You'll Be Doing
- Developing and delivering sourcing and negotiation strategies within your assigned spend areas.
- Supporting the development of category plans and owning delivery of agreed procurement activities.
- Identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve supplier arrangements through spend analysis and market research.
- Leading RFx activities, including eAuctions, supplier evaluations and commercial negotiations.
- Managing contract negotiations, renewals and sourcing projects in partnership with stakeholders and Legal teams.
- Working with business stakeholders to understand current and future requirements.
- Monitoring supplier performance against agreed service levels and key performance indicators.
- Applying supplier risk management processes and ensuring compliance with internal procurement policies.
- Maintaining accurate procurement records, including contracts, sourcing activity and savings tracking.
- Ensuring procurement activity complies with relevant regulatory, legal, data privacy and security requirements.
About You
You have experience in procurement, strategic sourcing or category management and are comfortable managing sourcing activities from planning through to contract award. You can build productive working relationships with stakeholders and suppliers, and you're confident leading negotiations and managing competing priorities. You'll be able to analyse information, assess options and make recommendations that balance cost, risk and business requirements.
Essential Criteria
- Experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management or vendor management within a services-related category.
- Proven experience leading supplier negotiations and managing contracts.
- Understanding of pricing models for people-based services such as Marketing, HR, Legal or Professional Services.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build effective working relationships.
Desirable Skills
- Experience using procurement systems and sourcing platforms, such as MarketDojo.
- CIPS qualified, working towards a CIPS qualification, or qualified through relevant experience.
What's in it for you?
Whatever stage of life you're in, our benefits are designed to provide the support, flexibility, and peace of mind you need to thrive both at work and beyond. In addition to our discretionary annual bonus scheme, which reflects both individual and company performance, you'll benefit from a market-leading benefits package tailored to support your wellbeing, financial security, and family life. Our benefits include:
- 28 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days.
- Private Medical Insurance – company-funded cover for you and your immediate family.
- Generous Pension Scheme – a non-contributory employer contribution of 10%, increasing with length of service up to 15%, plus the opportunity to increase this through salary sacrifice.
- Enhanced Parental Leave – up to 26 weeks' full pay to support growing families.
- Protection Benefits – company-funded critical illness cover, income protection, and life assurance.
- EV salary sacrifice scheme through Tusker.
Reasonable Adjustments
We're an equal opportunities employer and want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive for all, if you require reasonable adjustment(s) at any stage please let us know by emailing us at careers@sjp.co.uk. Research tells us that applicants (especially those from underrepresented groups) can be put off from applying for a role if they do not meet all the criteria or have been on an extended career-break. If you think you would be a good match for this role and can demonstrate some transferable experience please apply, regardless of whether you tick every box.
What's next?
If you're excited about this role and believe you have the skills and experience we're looking for, we'd love to hear from you! Please submit an application by clicking ‘apply’ below and our team will be in touch. As a business regulated by the FCA we would advise you to familiarise yourself with the conduct regulations and in particular consumer duty obligations prior to an interview with SJP.
Procurement Category Specialist in Cirencester employer: St. James's Place
At St. James's Place Management Services, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of engagement, empowerment, and accountability. Located in the heart of London, our hybrid workplace offers a supportive environment where you can thrive professionally while enjoying a market-leading benefits package, including generous leave, private medical insurance, and enhanced parental leave. We are committed to your growth, providing mentorship opportunities and a chance to shape the future of our business analysis practice in a dynamic investment management setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Category Specialist in Cirencester
✨Get Involved in Local Procurement Meetups
Join local procurement and purchasing groups on platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite. These gatherings are great for networking with industry professionals, sharing insights, and potentially hearing about temporary roles that might not be widely advertised!
✨Seasonal Hiring Cycles are Your Friend!
Keep an eye on seasonal trends in procurement, as many companies ramp up hiring during certain times of the year – especially around end-of-financial-year periods when budgets are being utilised. Be proactive and reach out to companies directly during these windows.
✨Leverage Online Platforms for Temporary Roles
Don’t forget to browse specific job boards dedicated to temporary positions, such as Reed or Indeed. You can filter your search for procurement roles and set up alerts for when new jobs pop up, so you can apply immediately!
✨Showcase Your Skills on Professional Networks
Create short case studies or posts on LinkedIn showcasing your procurement experience or interesting projects you've tackled. This not only builds your visibility but can also attract recruiters looking for temporary talent like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Category Specialist in Cirencester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Relevant Experience:When applying for a temporary role in procurement-purchasing, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Mention specific tasks like negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, or optimising inventory. This will show St. James's Place that you can hit the ground running!
Keep it Concise and Impactful:For a temporary role, we recommend keeping your CV and cover letter concise. Focus on key achievements that showcase your procurement skills and any immediate impact you’ve made in past roles. Use bullet points for clarity—this way, St. James's Place can quickly grasp your capabilities!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any certifications that are relevant to procurement, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply), don’t forget to mention them! This adds extra weight to your application and shows St. James's Place that you're serious about your professional development.
Emphasise Flexibility and Availability:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to emphasise your availability and flexibility in your cover letter. Let St. James's Place know when you can start and that you’re ready to adapt to their needs, making your application even more appealing!
How to prepare for a job interview at St. James's Place
✨Know Your Procurement Basics
Brush up on key procurement concepts and terms, like 'total cost of ownership' and 'supplier relationships'. We want to impress them with our knowledge! Being able to talk fluently about relevant techniques and tools specific to the procurement field will definitely lend credibility.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In a purchasing role, you might get thrown some real-world scenarios to assess how you’d handle supplier negotiations or cost-saving strategies. Be ready to demonstrate your problem-solving skills! Practising how you'd tackle these situations in advance will help us shine during the interview.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility and Adaptability
Since it’s a temporary role, emphasise how you can quickly adapt to new processes and environments. Share examples of past experiences where you’ve tackled new challenges with ease, showing they can rely on us to hit the ground running and contribute immediately!
✨Show Off Your Tech Savvy
Being well-versed in procurement software like SAP or Coupa can set us apart from other candidates. If you've got experience with these tools, be sure to mention it! Having a handle on data analysis and reporting will also demonstrate our capability to leverage technology effectively in procurement.
