Procurement Category Manager - Operational Services

Are you ready to

chart your own career path? With our refreshed strategy, we’re building on our rich heritage and transforming our business to be more scalable and efficient, unlocking the capabilities needed for future success.

This includes significantly investing in technology, streamlining the way we work and creating an environment where colleagues feel engaged, empowered and accountable; where they can show up, speak up and perform - because we believe in the difference our work makes.

At a glance

• Location: Cirencester Office
• Workplace Type: Hybrid
• Employment Type: Permanent
• Seniority: Mid-Senior Level

About the role

Are you passionate about driving cost savings, building strong stakeholder relationships, and shaping procurement strategies? We’re looking for a dynamic professional to become a trusted adviser within SJP, spearheading our Operational Services procurement initiatives to unlock maximum value.

As our key Procurement Partner, you will lead Strategic Initiatives, collaborate with the Category Lead to design and implement procurement strategies across various spend areas, including, Marketing, Travel & Events, Subscriptions, Facilities, Print, Legal, and HR Services.

What you'll be doing

Strategy Implementation – working for the Category Lead ensure that the strategy set for the category is implemented and maintained across SJP.

Cost Optimisation and savings - identify and deliver opportunities for cost savings and increased return on investment. Support the implementation of a cost-control approach across the category and use benchmarking to regularly test price competitiveness.

Stakeholder Engagement - collaborate across SJP directorates to implement the category strategy and find opportunities for improvement (cost / value / supplier performance / service provision) with the business.

Sourcing and negotiation – responsible for sourcing events including RFIs, RFPs, benchmarking, contract negotiation and the choice of suppliers for the category. Apply negotiation strategies to help with the selection of suppliers.

Risk Management - raise risks to the strategy or suppliers to the Category lead.

Reporting & Analytics -feed into critical metric reporting to monitor the effectiveness of procurement activities.

About you

You’ll thrive in this role if you’re a forward-thinking procurement professional with a passion for understanding market trends, innovative technologies, and guidelines in indirect procurement. With hands-on experience in procurement and category management within indirect spend categories, you’ll have a successful track record in negotiating contracts and managing supplier relationships.

Essential Criteria

• Proven expertise in managing categories such as, Marketing, facilities, Legal & Travel.
• Strong skills in developing RFPs, evaluating suppliers, and negotiating contracts.
• Knowledge of cost models and the ability to articulate supplier evaluations clearly to stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills for influencing decision-makers and fostering collaboration.
• CIPS qualification or equivalent experience.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and a proactive attitude.
• Experience with risk management in procurement is advantageous.
• What's in it for you?
• Whatever stage of life you're in, our benefits are designed to provide the support, flexibility, and peace of mind you need to thrive both at work and beyond.
• In addition to our discretionary annual bonus scheme, which reflects both individual and company performance, you'll benefit from a market-leading benefits package tailored to support your wellbeing, financial security, and family life.

Our benefits include

• 28 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 5 additional days.
• Private Medical Insurance – company-funded cover for you and your immediate family
• Generous Pension Scheme – a non-contributory employer contribution of 10%, increasing with length of service up to 15%, plus the opportunity to increase this through salary sacrifice
• Enhanced Parental Leave – up to 26 weeks' full pay to support growing families.
• Protection Benefits – company-funded critical illness cover, income protection, and life assurance
• EV salary sacrifice scheme through Tusker

Reasonable Adjustments

We're an equal

• opportunities employer and want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible
• and inclusive for all, if you require reasonable adjustment(s) at any stage
• please let us know by emailing us at [email protected]
• Research tells us
• that applicants (especially those from underrepresented groups) can be put off
• from applying for a role if they do not meet all the criteria or have been on
• an extended career-break. If you think you would be a good match for this role and
• can demonstrate some transferable experience please apply, regardless of
• whether you tick every box.
• What's next?
• If you're excited
• about this role and believe you have the skills and experience we're looking
• for, we'd love to hear from you! Please submit an application by clicking
• ‘apply’ below and our team will be in touch.
• As a business
• regulated by the FCA we would advise you to familiarise yourself with the
• conduct regulations and in particular consumer duty obligations prior to an
• interview with SJP.

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