Senior Category Manager

About the role

As a Senior Category Manager based in Birmingham, you will lead procurement strategies for a key category, ensuring value delivery and robust supplier relationships across a public‑service focused organisation.

Key responsibilities

• Own the Category Plan and all related contracts, delivering on agreed targets.
• Develop and implement procurement frameworks aligned with policies and UK regulations.
• Negotiate and draft fit‑for‑purpose contractual agreements.
• Monitor supplier performance and maintain strong governance, including PO approvals where required.
• Support sustainability initiatives such as ISO 20400 improvements.
• Engage stakeholders, work with DFTO on approvals, and contribute to group sourcing strategies.

Required profile

• Degree‑level education or equivalent experience.
• MCIPS qualification achieved or willingness to obtain it.
• Proven experience in Category Management within procurement.
• Advanced analytical ability and confidence working with spend data.
• Strong ICT competence, including e‑procurement platforms and Microsoft tools.
• Excellent negotiation and commercial skills, able to run full procurement cycles independently.
• Effective communicator who can work with diverse stakeholders and adapt to change.

Required skills

• e‑procurement systems
• Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Spend data analysis

What we offer

• Salary between £60,000 – £65,000 per year, dependent on experience.
• Defined benefit pension from day 1.
• 75% travel discount for you, partner and dependents.
• Eight Friends and Family Day passes annually.
• 24/7 Virtual GP service for you and your household.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme with Evans Cycles.
• Retail discount portal with savings at over 800 retailers and restaurants.