Job Title: Category Manager - Property

Reports to: Head of Procurement

General Scope of Post

• Drive a business partner approach with senior stakeholders, ensuring delivery of professional advice, guidance, and constructive challenge underpinned by expert knowledge of relevant spend areas.

• Develop and implement supply chain solutions that align with business goals, are fit for purpose, and deliver tangible benefit and value.

Key Accountabilities

• Drive implementation of, and continually review, procurement strategy with key stakeholders to support business objectives.

• Develop supplier relationships that support strategic delivery, innovation, continuous improvement, and best practice.

• Optimise value and manage risk across third-party spend within the category.

• Ensure that agreed project targets are delivered on time and to budget through effective collaboration and project execution.

• Educate stakeholders and promote best-practice procurement to maximise benefit and compliance.

Number of Direct Reports

This role has no direct reports.

Financial Responsibility

Covers an addressable third-party spend of approximately £20m and is involved in all major procurements.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.

• CIPS (or equivalent) qualified, or qualified by experience in procurement and strategic sourcing roles.

Desirable

• -

Experience

Essential

• Solid experience of end-to-end Category Management, including:

  • Strategy development

  • Tendering

  • Commercial and contract negotiations

  • Supplier relationship management

• Demonstrable stakeholder management and communication skills.

• Strong analytical and reporting skills.

Desirable

• Experience in health and social care.

Knowledge

Essential

• Category Management principles.

• Best-practice procurement principles.

• Evaluation, commercial, and risk analysis.

• Change and Project Management.

• Understanding of key commercial contract risks and opportunities.

Desirable

• -

Specific Skills

• Ability to identify and exploit opportunities for continuous improvement with stakeholders and suppliers.

• Ability to balance value across business priorities (financial, performance, risk, safety, etc.).

• Strong collaborative skills and the confidence to constructively challenge when required.

• Effective communication and presentation skills.

• Timely and confident decision-making.

Interpersonal Skills

• Self-motivated with the ability to work autonomously.

• Fosters collaboration and teamwork.

• Able to establish and maintain high levels of personal and professional credibility at all levels.

• Strong relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.

• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

• Able to prioritise workloads and manage expectations effectively.

Team Skills

• Team-oriented with a focus on collaboration.

• Able to influence colleagues and teams to support effective procurement decisions.