Senior Category Manager (7 Posts Ringfenced)

Salary details: £ - £

About the Role

We are looking to appoint experienced and motivated Senior Procurement Category Managers to support the delivery of a strategic, proactive procurement function across the Council.

This is a key leadership role within the Procurement service, responsible for delivering the Council’s procurement strategy across a designated directorate. You will act as a trusted business partner to senior leaders, leading complex and high‑value procurement activity, embedding proactive procurement planning, compliance, and driving continuous improvement in commercial outcomes.

You will also play an important role in developing and mentoring procurement colleagues, while providing strategic continuity by deputising for the Strategic Procurement Manager when required.

What You Will Be Doing

• Supporting the delivery of the directorate procurement strategy, aligning activity to service priorities, budgets, and corporate objectives
• Acting as a senior procurement partner to Assistant directors, Heads of Service, Service Managers, and budget holders
• Leading high‑value, high‑risk, and complex procurement projects, ensuring robust governance and legal compliance
• Managing and mentoring a team of Procurement Category Managers and Procurement Assistants supporting their development and performance
• Deputising for the Strategic Procurement Manager where required, providing leadership continuity
• Embedding compliance with the Procurement Act 2023, PCRs, PSR and Council governance frameworks
• Supporting early engagement in service planning to shape appropriate commercial solutions
• Driving improved contract management, performance monitoring, and risk management across services
• Promoting innovation, collaboration, and best practice within procurement delivery
• Representing the Council in partnership procurement forums, including work with neighbouring authorities.

About You

You will be an experienced procurement professional with strong leadership capability and a track record of delivering complex procurement in a regulated environment.

You will bring:

• Substantial experience delivering high‑value and complex procurement activity, ideally within the public sector
• In‑depth knowledge of public procurement legislation and frameworks
• Experience of managing, mentoring, and developing procurement staff
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
• A strategic, solutions‑focused mindset with the ability to work proactively with services
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to manage risk and compliance effectively

Essential Qualifications

• CIPS Level 5 or equivalent experience with evidence of progression

A management qualification or leadership experience is desirable.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a service transformation, helping shape a modern, strategic procurement function
• Work on high‑profile and complex procurement projects that make a real difference
• Opportunity to develop leadership and strategic management experience
• Supportive, collaborative team environment

Provisional Interview Dates: 4th, 10th, 11th & 12th June 2026

This is a Ringfenced vacancy and is only available to: - Employees whose current job is directly affected by an organisational review and who have been advised that they are within a specific ring fence, and have priority status for vacancies within that ringfence Any employee who has been advised by their Manager or Redeployment Officer that they are ‘individually at risk’ of redundancy, who can satisfy the eligibility criteria for priority status and meet the key requirements of the job. All eligible applicants will be considered for these posts on an equal footing. Please ask your Manager or Redeployment Officer if you are unsure of your status, eligibility or need further advice.

This role currently offers hybrid working options which will be to subject service needs, there'll be an opportunity to discuss working arrangements for this position at interview.