Senior Category Manager

Terms: Permanent, Full Time (Part time applications of 34 hours and above will be considered)

Closing Date: 30 May 2024 - 12:00 (noon) *Early Close:  We reserve the right to close adverts sooner than the closing date.  

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be at least twice per month.

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

The role  

The Procurement Services Team is a key part of the Finance and Business Services Unit, providing professional commercial services to support the delivery of value for the goods and services purchased across the University.

As a senior member of the Procurement Services Team, the Senior Category Manager will provide expert strategic procurement and commercial advice to key stakeholders involved in the IT & Digital (includes software – IAAS, PAAS, SAAS, managed services, consultancy, hardware and AV related services) spend categories (c. total £40m spend pa). They will play a key role in ensuring that procurement is delivered using best practice, ensuring compliance and colleagues involved in buying goods and services understand their role and responsibilities. In addition the role-holder will provide procurement advice and support for the STEM category with an annual spend of c.£1m to £2m.

Stakeholder engagement, tendering, commercial contract negotiation and advising on supplier management are key elements of the role. The Senior Category Manager will also manage a small team of Category Managers working alongside the Head and Deputy Head of Procurement in delivering the key objectives of the University’s Procurement Strategy. 

Skills and experience

This role will suit you if you have;

• A CIPS qualification or equivalent job-related experience.
• Strong category management experience (preferably in the public sector) specifically in the area of IT & digital services with a focus on software, managed services and consultancy.
• Significant experience of successfully delivering complex procurement projects including sustainability and social value outcomes
• Expert knowledge of public sector procurement legislation

For further information about the role and a full list of the required skills and experiences required, please see the attached job description.

If you would like to discuss the application or recruitment process before making an application, please contact Emma Jones at Resourcing Hub on 01908 655544 or resourcing-hub@open.ac.uk quoting the reference VRF 21650.

What you get in return

We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of your training and development needs.

We also offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Staff Benefits include an attractive pension proposition and 33 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure days.

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