Category Specialist

A business within the education sector is seeking a dynamic Procurement professional, to form part of a crucial procurement and commercial team, to work across IT spend.

The Category Specialist role will work closely with Procurement and IT services. You will be joining a motivated team who all strive together for success.

As Category Specialist (IT) your key responsibilities will be:

• Support the development and implementation of strategic procurement and category management plans
• Provide practical procurement guidance (ensuring compliance with EU legislation)
• Support IT services to deliver a range of crucial services, including the procurement of a range of systems and services
• Plan, lead and conduct a range of Procurement exercises
• Ensure the robust management and ownership of supplier contracts
• Engage with relevant suppliers and undertake category management activities as required
• Analyse historic spend data with a view to generating more efficient ways of working
• Review existing procurement frameworks and suppliers to support a drive for continuous improvement
• Work with high-level stakeholders to support skills development within contracting and procurement activities

Skills and experience required:

• MCIPS – qualified or working towards a qualification – preferred
• Procuring goods and services of strategic significance including fuel and power, IT equipment and services, capital projects, scientific equipment
• Knowledge of a broad range of regulation and law relating to contracts and commercial business activity
• Working knowledge of business systems and processes including those in support of P2P and S2C business transactions
• Successful experience of implementing a plan for the delivery of Procurement in commercial business transactions in a section of an organisation of similar size and complexity
• Experience of successfully managing and supporting the procurement activity of a diverse range of goods and services
• Managing public procurements and experience within a commercial environment
• Providing support and advice to stakeholders engaging in the delivery of services on commercial terms

In applications we will be looking for:

• A capable manager and motivator
• A competent, persuasive, credible and effective communicator
• An accomplished strategic thinker
• Highly motivated with very high standards of professionalism, service and quality

Benefits of the Category Specialist (IT) role include:

• £35-40,000
• Pension Scheme
• Life assurance
• Healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff discounts
• Staff gym
• Cycle to work scheme
• Totum discount card
• Discount at local hotels and guesthouses
• Discounted public transport
• Travel loan
• Staff development
• Discounted language course
• Team building events