JOB DESCRIPTION

DEPARTMENT Finance POSTHOLDER
SECTION Procurement GRADE PO7
POST DESIGNATION (TITLE) Category Manager
Purpose of Job:
To be responsible to the Category Lead for:
1. Providing excellent senior level commercial advice to support the Council to
achieve it’s corporate objectives.
2. Working in partnership with the relevant Department, acting as a key strategic
adviser on complex procurement matters, managing procurement projects of high
value, complexity and/or risk to the council and to guide and advise the relevant
department(s) to achieve the twin objectives of value for money and social value.
3. Providing expert technical information, advice, guidance and challenge on all
aspects of the procurement process to internal customers
4. Managing relationships with third party partners, and to ensure that any potential
risks within procurements are effectively managed to safeguard successful delivery
of outcomes.
5. Specialising (although not exclusively) on contracting activity within certain
categories of spend or certain classes of contract activity so as to gain familiarly
with certain service considerations
6. Contributing to Council-wide and service areas initiatives that will achieve and
implement the corporate objectives.

1. Providing effective:

• procurement programme and risk management
• application of corporate procurement standards and controls
• management of people, resources and operations as may be required for

identified key procurement projects within the service areas.
Manages up to ..2.directly managed staff.
Manages up to ..6 indirectly managed consultancy/contracting staff.
Main Duties:
1. To work alongside the Category Lead in the service area you are allocated to
develop and implement category procurement strategies and develop and
implement robust forward procurement plans, including setting targets which
contributes to the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Strategy and other key
Council polices
2. To provide expert strategic procurement and contract management advice to senior
managers and officers across the Council.
3. To provide contractual advice and lead end-to-end procurement processes across
the Council including complex and high value contracts, and acting the role of
Category Manager as a key member of the project team.
4. To provide quality advice and guidance to internal customers on all aspects of the
procurement process, supported by expert technical knowledge including relevant
legislation and best practice.
5. To apply the tools and techniques of strategic sourcing to achieve business
outcomes through sound market analysis, commercial acumen and strategy
formulation, resulting in improved quality of services and/or financial savings and, in
all cases, value for money.
6. To work closely with stakeholders to ensure procurement activity meets business
needs, while providing objective advice and guidance, for instance in tender
evaluation and moderation.
7. To manage multi-disciplined teams to achieve a common outcome and to provide
guidance and supervision to Procurement Officers assigned to support projects.
8. Ensure procurement exercises are compliant with requirements such as with
National Rules (Procurement Act and/or Provider Selection Regime) and the Social
Value Act, plus additional wider Council objectives including Sustainability and Fair
Tax.
10. To demonstrate and promote a culture of performance management of contracts to
drive maximum value and social value benefits from contracts.
11. To develop and promote best practice in supplier relationship management to
minimise potential risk to the Council for example a supplier failing to deliver a
contract
12. To deliver workshops/training to internal customers as well as external suppliers to
support compliance and promotion of the Council’s procurement objectives.
13. To represent the Council at meetings with external contractors, consultants and
partners and with other Local Authorities relating to any procurement and contract
management matters.
14 To maintain professional peer networks, enabling benchmarking and bringing best
practice to the Council.
15. Where necessary for the job role or appropriate for continued development in the
role, the post holder may be required to participate in training and development
courses
16. To ensure that both personal and functional activities fully comply with and promote
the Council’s Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion ambitions
17. To undertake any other work appropriate to the level and general nature of the
post’s duties.
18. Where necessary for the job role or appropriate for continued development in the
role, the post holder may be required to participate in training and development
courses made available via the Council’s Apprentice Levy funding.
19. To undertake all duties with due regard to the provisions of health and safety
regulations and legislation, Data Protection/GDPR, the Council’s Equal
Opportunities and Customer Care policies.
20. To perform all duties in line with Council’s staff values showing commitment to
improving residents lives and opportunities, demonstrating respect and fairness,
taking ownership, working towards doing things better and working together across
the council.
21. Responsible for providing mentoring opportunities to junior staff (e.g. graduates,
apprentices etc.)
22. This post does not require a DBS
23 To undertake supervision/management of staff as and when required.
24. You may be required to undertake alternative, additional or ancillary duties from
time to time or transfer to another service department within the Council as the
Council may reasonably direct to meet service user demand in the event of a crisis
or emergency.
Designation of the Post to which the Post-Holder normally reports to: Category Lead
(People Services or Place or Resources, as allocated
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £321.03 per day

Experience:

• Category Management: 1 year (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in London SE18 6HQ
Application deadline: 03/02/2025
Expected start date: 16/02/202

Please refer the Job description for details