Senior Category Manager (Estates & Facilities)

Full Time Permanent

Closing Date: Thursday 31 August 2023

Interview Date: To be confirmed

This role has an additional market supplement of up to £3,000 dependent on qualifications / experience

This is an exceptional time to be joining the University of Southampton and the Procurement Services Team. The University has launched its new Estates Strategic Plan which will see a significant investment (c£600m) in creating the optimum environment for students to learn, world-class research to take place, and to enable collaboration and innovation. We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced category manager, ideally with Estates and Facilities procurement experience, to join our team in a role that will be central to the delivery of this estates strategy.

About the role

• You will be the lead for estates and facilities procurement activity, ensuring compliant procurement which meets business needs and delivers value for money.
• You will develop and implement overarching category plans and detailed procurement strategies covering construction for major and minor works, and Hard and Soft FM services.
• You will lead a small team of Procurement Managers and Procurement Officers to support delivery of procurement requirements
• You will work closely with contract managers to ensure contract performance expectations are met  

What you’ll bring

• Experience of delivering end-to-end procurements for large scale capital projects and hard/soft FM service contracts in a regulated and complex environment, ideally with public sector procurement experience

• A high level of commercial acumen 
• The ability to build strong, productive relationships across our academic and research staff, professional services and key external suppliers and partners

What we can offer

You will be offered some excellent benefits including:

• 44 days leave per year (including 6 University Closure days and 8 days public holidays)
• A 35 hour working week
• Excellent pension scheme (Employer contributions for USS are currently 21.4% of pensionable pay)
• Hybrid working (based 1-2 days at our lively Highfield campus)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff discounts
• Discounted access to our sports complex
• Supported departmental development opportunities
• Assistance with relocation if applicable

We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse culture at the University and creating an environment where people can balance successful careers with their commitments and interests outside of work. Our flexible working practices, including a hybrid working model, where employees can split their working time between the office and home, support our belief that this balance brings long-lasting benefits for our institution as well as our people.

We believe equality and diversity are fundamental to making the University of Southampton a vibrant, proud and successful organisation. A diverse workforce, with people from different racial, educational and social backgrounds and a range of ages, opens up a wealth of possibilities for Southampton.

For an informal conversation about this role, please contact Eychelle Heywood, Head of Procurement at e.m.heywood@soton.ac.uk to arrange a convenient time.

Further details:

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants who supports our mission of inclusivity.

Apply by midnight on the closing date. For assistance contact Recruitment on +44(0)2380 592750 or recruitment@soton.ac.uk quoting the job number.

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