Category Manager - Hybrid

Title: Category Manager

Contract type: Permanent, Full Time 35 hours per week

Location: West Ham Lane, Stratford, London (E15 4PH) or Sale Point, Manchester (M33 6AG)

Persona: Agile (1 – 2 days per week in the office)                                                            

Salary: £53,660 London / £46,524 Outside London

Closing date for completed applications: 19^th July 2024

Interview date: 29^th July – 2^nd August 2024

Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the advertisement and interview earlier than stated.

It is an exciting time for L&Q’s Group Procurement team. Over the last 18 months, we have redesigned our structure and introduced category management and business partnering as part of working towards achieving operational excellence.

We are looking for an experienced Category Manager for Property Services to support our Group Procurement Function in delivering an outstanding procurement service.

As the Category Manager, you will develop sourcing strategies and overarching procurement strategies for Property Services which delivers L&Q’s repairs and maintenance requirements. You will also undertake procurement activities as part of bringing those strategies to fruition.

You will have significant experience working compliantly within the PCR’s 2015 and be able to demonstrate that you have a successful track record in delivering outstanding value.

The ideal candidate will be either MCIPS qualified or working towards this qualification with demonstrable category and procurement management experience of large value contracts in the public sector.

You will report to the Senior Procurement Manager for Property Services and work as part of a team that includes two Procurement Managers and a Procurement Officer.

Key Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrable experience of procuring in compliance with Public Procurement Regulations
• Experience in delivering high-value, innovative procurement solutions
• Commercial and financial acumen and an ability to articulate procurement strategies and benefits
• MCIPS or qualification at Level 4 or above is desirable
• Excellent communication and persuasion skills and the ability to work effectively with stakeholders
• Experience of procuring Maintenance and Building Services works and services requirements is desirable

If you are interested in this role and have the experience required, then apply without delay!

NB. We are a multisite organisation and travel between offices may be required at times.

Salary & Benefits:

We offer a competitive annual salary and benefits package which includes:

• 28 days annual leave rising to 31 days PLUS bank holidays
• Agile/hybrid working 
• Excellent pension scheme and non-contributory life assurance
• Investment in your career development with continued support and training (in-house & external courses)
• Employee assistance programme
• Health & Wellbeing program
• Employee discount scheme
• Up to 21 volunteer hours per year
• Strong family-friendly policies

Our commitments:

At L&Q, people are at the heart of our business and our success depends on employing the best people and getting the best from them. This is why we are committed to developing our people. It's only by investing in a well-trained and motivated workforce that we can continue to prosper and sustain business success.

We are committed to supporting your work-life balance and recognise the changing demands and circumstances in life. Please let us know during the recruitment process if you’re interested in part time working or job sharing.  In addition, should your circumstances change once you have joined L&Q, you can also request flexible working arrangements, e.g. a change to working hours - if it’s feasible then we’ll make it happen.

We are recognised externally for our commitment to inclusion.  We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident (Committed) employer and have signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge to demonstrate our commitment to end mental health discrimination in the workplace.

We expect all of our employees to support our environmental policy and social responsibility work. We are an employer committed to environmental and social responsibility.

L&Q is a regulated charitable housing association and one of the UK’s most successful independent social businesses. The L&Q Group houses around 250,000 people in more than 97,000 homes, primarily across London, the South East and North West.

As a charitable organisation, our role goes beyond providing homes and housing services. We are a long-term partner in the neighbourhoods where we work. We hope to build aspiration, opportunity and confidence in our communities through our £250 million L&Q Foundation and our skills academy. 

In response to the housing and affordability crisis, we will build 100,000 new homes over ten years. Of these, 60,000 homes will be built or funded by L&Q, whilst a further 40,000 will come through partnerships. Crucially, at least 50% of these new homes will be genuinely affordable, with a target of 60% in London.

Our vision is that everyone has a quality home they can afford, and we combine our social purpose with commercial drive to create homes and neighbourhoods everyone can be proud of.