Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive cost savings and shape procurement strategies across various spend areas.
- Company: SJP, a forward-thinking employer passionate about excellence and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, generous leave, and private medical insurance.
- Why this job: Become a trusted adviser and make a real impact in procurement initiatives.
- Qualifications: Experience in procurement, strong negotiation skills, and excellent communication abilities.
- Other info: Hybrid work environment with opportunities for career growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
Are you ready to chart your own career path? At SJP we need talented individuals like yourself to support our evolving culture. If you’re seeking an employer that is passionate about excellence, innovation and autonomy, SJP could be the place for you.
Location: Cirencester Office • Workplace Type: Hybrid • Employment Type: Permanent • Seniority: Mid-Senior Level
Are you passionate about driving cost savings, building strong stakeholder relationships, and shaping procurement strategies? We’re looking for a dynamic professional to become a trusted adviser within SJP, spearheading our Operational Services procurement initiatives to unlock maximum value. As our key Procurement Partner, you will lead Strategic Initiatives, collaborate with the Category Lead to design and implement procurement strategies across various spend areas, including Travel & Events, Marketing, Subscriptions, Facilities, Print, Recruitment, and HR Services.
What you’ll be doing:
- Strategy Implementation: Working for the Category Lead to ensure that the strategy set for the category is implemented and maintained across SJP.
- Cost Optimisation and Savings: Identify and deliver opportunities for cost savings and increased ROI. Support the implementation of a cost-control approach across the category and use benchmarking to regularly test price competitiveness.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate across SJP directorates to implement the category strategy and identify opportunities for improvement (cost / value / supplier performance / service provision) with the business.
- Sourcing and Negotiation: Responsible for sourcing events including RFIs, RFPs, benchmarking, contract negotiation and the choice of suppliers for the category. Apply negotiation strategies to help with the selection of suppliers.
- Risk Management: Escalate risks to the strategy or suppliers to the Category lead.
- Reporting & Analytics: Feed into KPI reporting to monitor the effectiveness of procurement activities.
Who we’re looking for:
You’ll thrive in this role if you’re a forward-thinking procurement professional with a passion for understanding market trends, innovative technologies, and best practices in indirect procurement. With hands-on experience in procurement and category management within indirect spend categories, you’ll have a successful track record in negotiating contracts and managing supplier relationships.
- Proven expertise in managing categories such as Facilities, Marketing & Travel.
- Strong skills in developing RFPs, evaluating suppliers, and negotiating contracts.
- Knowledge of cost models and the ability to articulate supplier evaluations clearly to stakeholders.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills for influencing decision-makers and fostering collaboration.
- CIPS qualification or equivalent experience.
- Experience with risk management in procurement is advantageous.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and a proactive mindset.
What’s in it for you?
We reward you for the work you do, whether that’s through our discretionary annual bonus scheme that reflects both personal and company performance, competitive annual leave allowance (28 days plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days), or online rewards platform with a variety of discounts. We also have benefits to support whatever stage of life you are in, including:
- Competitive parental leave (26 weeks full pay)
- Private medical insurance (optional taxable benefit)
- 10% non-contributory pension (increasing with length of service)
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 Manager - Operational Services employer: St. James's Place
Contact Detail:
St. James's Place Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Category Manager - Operational Services
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at SJP on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching SJP's recent projects and initiatives. Show us that you’re not just interested in the role but also in how you can contribute to their goals and culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! Since the role involves sourcing and contract negotiation, be ready to discuss your strategies and past successes. We want to see how you can bring value to the team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the SJP family.
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Category Manager - Operational Services
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Procurement Category Manager role. Highlight your experience in cost optimisation, stakeholder engagement, and procurement strategies that align with what we’re looking for at SJP.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you’ve driven cost savings or improved supplier relationships in your previous roles. We love seeing quantifiable results that demonstrate your impact!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value innovation and autonomy, so don’t hesitate to express your passion for procurement and how you can contribute to our evolving culture at SJP.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure it reaches us and shows your enthusiasm for joining the SJP team. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at St. James's Place
✨Know Your Procurement Strategies
Before the interview, brush up on the latest procurement strategies and trends, especially in operational services. Be ready to discuss how you can implement these strategies at SJP and drive cost savings.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully built relationships with stakeholders in previous roles. Highlight your communication skills and how you've influenced decision-making processes to achieve procurement goals.
✨Master the Art of Negotiation
Since negotiation is key for this role, come equipped with specific examples of successful negotiations you've led. Discuss your approach to sourcing suppliers and how you ensure value for money while maintaining quality.
✨Understand Risk Management
Familiarise yourself with risk management principles in procurement. Be prepared to discuss how you've identified and mitigated risks in past projects, and how you would apply that knowledge at SJP.
