Category Lead
Permanent
Hybrid/Southwark – 2 days per week in office
£56,070 - £72,806 per annum
Spinwell is recruiting for a Category Lead for an excellent opportunity within the public sector.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CATEGORY LEAD
You will lead the ICT Category team in developing and managing all category procurement and contract activities in support of the client’s ICT needs including key workstreams within the client’s Community Risk Management Plan. This includes the timely production of compliant category plans, sourcing plans and contract awards; ongoing supplier performance and risk management; development of market analysis and multi-year category plans in pursuit of the team’s transformation plan; use and promotion of procurement data analytics and MI; proactive and reliable stakeholder engagement; and ensuring that actions and issues are dealt with promptly and meet the function’s performance targets.
SKILLS/EXPERIENCE CATEGORY LEAD JOB
- Extensive hands-on experience in procurement, category and contract management with demonstrable subject matter and stakeholder influencing experience in the ICT category at a relevant level.
- Advanced working knowledge and experience of public sector procurement procedures and regulations governing the invitation, evaluation, and award of contracts for public procurements.
- Possession of, or participation in a course of study leading and or willingness to work towards a Professional Diploma in in Procurement and Supply and MCIPS membership with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) and embedding this knowledge into fulfilling a procurement role.
- Experience of working at a senior level in procurement or similar environment, managing a range of complex multi-disciplinary projects concurrently and providing support to the senior management team.
- Experience of undertaking research from a range of supply chain sources and developing robust procurement strategies which effectively and proportionately manage commercial risks.
- Experience of providing high quality written work within a procurement context to prepare complex and sensitive contractual and management documentation.
- Experience of staff management, motivation and development, to ensure effective capacity and capability whilst managing weaknesses and harnessing strengths.
- Experience of acting on own initiative in a range of situations but maintaining awareness as a team member to ensure continuous alignment with coworkers to offer service consistency.
- Experience of using a wide range of information technology applications, including project management tools, together with good keyboard skills and an awareness of how IT systems can be utilised in an office environment.
- Experience of leading by example to ensure early planning and awareness of how the consideration of existing work commitments are considered to facilitate succession planning, organisation and prioritisation within a team.
- Experience of leading and managing a range of compliant procurement activities and drafting all associated tender and contract documentation to effectively manage commercial risks.
- Experience of overcoming resistance, resolving issues and managing risks and knowing when to escalate to management with proposed recommendations for review.
- Effective oral and written communication skills that build credibility with stakeholders and ensure understanding and clarity of roles, responsibilities, and documentation with an ability to produce clear, concise, accurate information, advice, strategies, reports, presentations, communications, and robust commercial documentation with attention to detail.
- Well developed interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills to develop and manage effective working relationships at all levels internally and externally to ensure that the client receives value for money and maintains a professional reputation.
- Ability to inspire, support and encourage others to achieve a common purpose or vision and manage team differences to promote cohesion whilst addressing performance weaknesses by generating positive professional working relationships both internally and externally that support principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion in a transparent manner.
- Ability to remain calm under pressure and manage conflict in a professional manner whilst providing consistent support for the section by encouraging stakeholders to focus on solutions.
- Creating and implementing effective plans to deliver long-term organisational strategic objectives and readjusting these as necessary in response to internal and external influences whilst keeping stakeholders appropriately informed.
- Advanced numerical skills to manage budgets, interpret data, evaluate proposals and to prepare financial and statistical reports.
- Logical analytical skills to understand requirements, commercial risks and opportunities to facilitate proportionate value for money procurement solutions with consideration of whole life costing and total cost of acquisition.
- Well developed commercial, analytical, research and planning skills in order to identify procurement solutions to supply management issues and embedding robust protections into the contract to protect commercial interests.
- Well developed organisational skills to manage changing and conflicting priorities whilst meeting deadlines with the ability to act independently and as part of a team to anticipate possible risks..
- Knowledge: the successful candidate will bring a wealth of experience in contract and category management with ability to demonstrate their direct contribution in:
- A working knowledge of best practice procurement, contractual and financial procedures relevant to a large local authority, including relevant procurement legislation and maintaining an awareness of changes.
- An understanding of how to maintain appropriate confidentiality through working practices, including of the principles of Classifications, General Data Protection Regulation, and the Freedom of Information Act and how this should be reflected and controlled in procurement documentation and activities to reduce commercial risks..
- An understanding of the benefits of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and a commitment to ensuring appropriate policies are adhered to and reflected in working practices.
- An understanding of how health and safety requirements are incorporated and managed within contracts, as well as knowledge of good health and safety practice within an office environment to ensure health and safety of others together with an awareness of the regulations that govern the use of display screen equipment.
- An awareness of and a commitment to Responsible Procurement legislation and policies, specifically sustainable, social, economic factors and how these are appropriately reflected in procurement activities and contracts.
If you are a Category Lead, apply now or send your CV to Spinwell!
We welcome all applications regardless of background, in line with our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.
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