Category Manager (IS) - 13030

Location: Brunel University London, Uxbridge Campus

Salary: Grade 8 from: £45,140 to £57,803 inclusive of London Weighting with potential to progress to £64,606 per annum inclusive of London Weighting through sustained exceptional contribution.

Hours: Full-time

Contract Type: Permanent                              

Brunel University London was established in 1966 and is a leading multidisciplinary research-intensive technology university delivering economic, social and cultural benefits.

For more information please visit: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/our-history/home

Join Our Procurement Team!

The Procurement Department is a team of dedicated professionals committed to supporting the University through expert procurement strategies. We provide guidance and a consultative approach to help manage expenditure, reduce risk, and improve quality, ensuring Value for Money (VfM) across all categories of spend.

We offer strategic leadership in sourcing, policy development, and governance for major procurement activities, while managing key supplier relationships.

Our core values include:

• Achieving Best Value for all works, goods, and services.
• Ensuring transparency and fairness in all procurement processes.
• Treating all suppliers equally and fostering inclusive opportunities.
• Full compliance with UK legislation.
• Promoting responsible procurement, integrating social, economic, and environmental goals where possible.

Category Manager role:

We are seeking a proactive Category Manager to join our team and deliver a high-quality Procurement service for a designated category area. This role will involve leading high-risk/complexity tenders, creating and delivering sourcing strategies, and managing supplier relationships to achieve value for money and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

• Take ownership of the category vision and develop Category Plans that support the University's sourcing strategies, while being flexible and collaborative across different categories as needed.
• Create a clear category vision and drive the execution of annual category plans. Gain a deep understanding of the Category from both internal and external perspectives. Build strong working relationships and actively engage with relevant stakeholders to foster collaboration. Identify and report on risks and issues, tracking progress through regular updates. Identify and promote value-added services across the University.
• Deliver budget efficiencies and maximise the use of University’s funds.
• Procure and negotiate contractual agreements effectively.
• Promote best commercial practise through stakeholder and supplier relationships.
• Engage with subject matter experts and the local community to support the University's Responsible Procurement goals. Ensure compliant procurement processes and contracts, while improving overall compliance metrics and addressing any non-compliance issues. Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives to establish Procurement as a Best-in-Class function.
• Lead and develop peers, direct reports and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the University’s vision and mission as encapsulated under the banner “Brunel 2030 - A university for a changing world”.

Skills & Attributes:

• Strong communication, negotiation, and networking abilities.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Experience using e-sourcing platforms and lead on tender processes.
• Experience in managing the IS Category (hardware and software) is essential.

If you're ready to make an impact and support all our procurement initiatives, apply now!

We offer a generous annual leave package plus discretionary University closure days, excellent training and development opportunities as well as a great occupational pension scheme and a range of health-related support. The University is also committed to a hybrid working approach.

For further details about the post including the Job Description and Person Specification and to apply please visit https://careers.brunel.ac.uk

Closing date for applications: Sunday 23 March 2024 (Midnight)

Interviews to be take place: tbc

All Applicants should be eligible to live and work in the UK for the duration of any offer of appointment.

Brunel University London has a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Our aim is to promote and achieve a fully inclusive workforce to reflect our community.