Interim Category Manager ICT

1st Executive Ltd; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - GBP 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading procurement consultancy is seeking a Category Manager (ICT) to join their South West team, predominantly remote. This senior role involves leading complex procurement strategies for various public sector organizations, ensuring best value and advocating collaboration. Candidates should have substantial public sector procurement experience and a strong background in category management, especially in ICT. Excellent stakeholder management skills are essential for this pivotal position, which also involves managing senior procurement teams.

Qualifications

• Senior commercial experience in public procurement.
• Strong background in ICT category management and strategic sourcing.
• Experience in developing and motivating high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategy for multiple public sector organizations.
• Provide expert procurement advice in complex environments.
• Manage contracts and stakeholder relationships at a senior level.
• Develop and train senior procurement professionals.

Skills

Public sector procurement expertise

Category management

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Team leadership

Education

Project management qualifications (PRINCE2 or MSP)

Job description

Role: Category Manager (ICT); Location: South West (regional remit); Hybrid: Yes - though mostly remote!!; Day rate: £250-330pd (inside IR35)

Introduction

This is an excellent senior procurement role that sits within a regional shared procurement service, operating on behalf of multiple public sector organisations across the South West. The role leads a complex, high value category portfolio and plays a key part in shaping regional and national collaboration. It offers genuine strategic influence, senior stakeholder exposure, and responsibility for delivering best value across a politically and commercially complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver category strategy on behalf of multiple public sector organisations, driving collaboration, innovation and best value
• Provide expert commercial, category and procurement advice, applying public procurement law within a complex political, economic and legislative landscape
• Lead complex, high value and high risk procurements end to end, including sourcing strategy, commercial models, evaluation and contract award
• Manage and influence multi-organisation contractual and stakeholder relationships at senior level
• Represent the shared procurement service on regional and national strategic and operational delivery groups
• Line manage and develop senior procurement professionals, embedding a strong learning, performance and quality culture
• Own category strategies, savings targets and performance outcomes, ensuring compliance and continuous improvement
• Drive supplier performance management, insight and data-led decision making across the category portfolio
• Challenge existing approaches and ways of working where improvements to value, performance or outcomes can be achieved

Requirements

• Senior commercial experience, with strong knowledge of public sector procurement
• Strong background in category management and strategic sourcing - ICT especially of interest
• Demonstrable experience leading, developing and motivating high performing teams
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills
• Project or programme management qualifications such as PRINCE2 or MSP desirable

Senior Consultant - Procurement & Supply Chain