Category Manager – Development (Construction)

Overview

In this role you will lead strategic sourcing and category management across development/construction spend areas within the public sector. You will partner with internal stakeholders to align procurement with business priorities, drive value, and manage supplier relationships from market analysis through contract implementation. You will ensure regulatory compliance and continuously improve category strategies to deliver value for money. This is an opportunity to shape procurement outcomes for a diverse portfolio in a regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead nominated procurement categories, suppliers, and contracts with strategic sourcing solutions
• Manage end-to-end procurement projects from inception to contract award and implementation
• Ensure compliance with public procurement regulations and governance
• Lead supplier engagement, tendering, negotiations, and contract lifecycle management
• Build strong stakeholder relationships to understand business priorities, risks and opportunities
• Conduct market research and analysis to support sourcing strategies and supplier selection
• Identify and map organisational expenditure and establish compliant routes to market
• Proactively identify opportunities for value through strategic sourcing and supplier management
• Support continuous improvement in procurement practices and category strategies

Key requirements

• Proven experience in procurement or category management
• Experience with categories like Development and Construction, Property Services, Asset Management, Hard Facilities Management
• Strong category management expertise using data/market intelligence
• Tendering and competitive procurement in a regulated public sector environment
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Experience managing supplier relationships and contract performance for value for money and high service standards
• Strong organisational skills with multiple priorities and projects
• Knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015
• Experience in public sector, housing, facilities management, or residential development environments advantageous

• Stakeholder management
• Influencing and credibility-building
• Relationship-building
• Category management
• Data analysis and market intelligence
• Tendering and procurement processes

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