Category Manager

Hampshire County Council is nationally recognised as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. A forward-looking local authority, it offers a pleasant working environment, flexible working, an excellent work/life balance and a central and well-connected Head Office location in the heart of the city of Winchester. The Strategic Procurement Team supports Hampshire County Council, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, and the Office Police Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and Isle of Wight. The team also provide procurement services to a number of other external clients including Local Authorities, National Park Authorities and Educational Establishments.  

We are currently seeking Procurement Category Managers to plan, drive and deliver collaboration and effective stakeholder management to embed and apply a best practice commercial approach to external and in-house spend, providing support and challenge across procurement lifecycle in order to deliver value for money outcomes. As part of the Strategic Procurement Team, you will be a procurement professional with around 2 years of public sector procurement experience across a range of categories and with experience in managing high value and more complex tenders.  This experience will be supported by detailed working knowledge of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 to be able to provide technical advice and guidance to clients and be able to demonstrate the ability to coach and advise team members through the complexities of public sector procurement.  You will also have up to date knowledge of the Transforming Public Procurement agenda.

You will be deployed to lead key initiatives, lead tender exercises for services and deliver transformational savings through a commercial best practice approach. To be successful in this role you will also have excellent stakeholder management skills, a positive ‘can do’ attitude and in-depth public sector strategic and operational procurement experience with knowledge of category management, sourcing methodologies and conflict resolution.