Senior Category Manager

Senior Category Manager - Education - £550 (Inside IR35) - London (Hybrid)

Leading higher education client now requires a Category professional to lead procurement/commercial contract management.

This role will work directly with faculties and departments to shape buying strategies, negotiate strong commercial deals and introduce better ways of working.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop procurement plans that meet category needs and sustainability goals.
• Run large-scale tenders and negotiate value-for-money agreements.
• Advise stakeholders on compliance, including when to compete and when to sole source.
• Draft and manage supplier contracts linked to research funding, including grant awards, material transfer agreements and research service agreements.
• Manage e-catalogues.
• Build tiered supplier relationship management approaches.
• Drive non-pay savings and continuous process improvement.
• Line manage, develop and retain a high-performing team.
• Contribute to the Commercial Leadership Team and its strategic plan.

About you:

• Significant senior-level procurement and commercial experience, with a degree or equivalent. experience and ongoing professional development.
• Expert negotiator with a track record of delivering complex, large-scale commercial solutions.
• Strong leadership skills, including change management and building high-performing teams.
• Confident communicator and influencer at all levels, able to work across large, decentralised organisations.
• Commercially astute, organised and collaborative, and a good evidence-based decision-maker.
• MCIPS accredited (desirable)

This is an initial 3-month contract role which provides a daily rate of £550 (Inside IR35).

In terms of working structure, this is hybrid with 3 days per week in their Central London office and the rest remote