Senior Category Manager
| Job Type | Contract |
| Location | Reading/ Hybrid |
| Area | South East, UK |
| Sector | Procurement & Commercial |
| Salary | £77 Per Hour |
| Start Date | March 17th, 2026 |
| Advertiser | Jack Latter |
| Job Ref | 7367-PSR1JP00100557 |
| IR35 | Inside |
| Security Clearance | SC |
- Description
- The Client:
A government department client is looking for a Senior Category Manager to join them on an 8 month contract. This position will be based in Reading/ Hybrid.
Job Summary:
Drive, implement and execute Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, Contract Management and Supplier Relationship Management within an assigned sub-group of categories, with the ultimate objective of leveraging and securing the supplier base to support its current and future business requirements, whilst mitigating risks. Provide Commercial and Contract Performance support to the business to allow management of project and commercial risk.
Key Accountabilities:
- Develop and implement Category Strategies for assigned sub-group of categories, balancing short and long-term objectives to meet business strategy and efficiencies (savings) in alignment with business stakeholders.
- Support and execute complex strategic sourcing activities in line with approved category strategies and preferred suppliers list, including the execution of the RFx process, supplier evaluation and selection, contract negotiation, business award and contract handover to the business, in compliance with the business requirements as well as client policies and directives, including Code of Conduct and Code of Business Ethics.
- Responsible for contractual and commercial management and effective contract administration to the relevant team providing commercial assurance to deliver commercial value.
- Support and execute Supplier Relationship Management for key and critical suppliers within the sub-group of categories, including supplier segmentation, contract management, supplier risks identification and mitigation and suppliers performance.
- Identify and develop supplier value including planning and participating to external management review meetings with segmented suppliers (Management Business Reviews and Executive Business Reviews) in accordance with the client's Supplier Relationship Management framework and the agreed supplier strategy.
- Support and provide input to the Process and Performance team as appropriate.
- Support the development and interface with the Service Centre.
Key Responsibilities:
- Consistently demonstrating positive behaviours in line with the company's environmental, sustainability, safety, health, security, quality and ethics standards.
- Category Management Drive and implement Category Strategy to deliver cost effective category solutions and business models.
- Supplier base management and supplier classification (Preferred Supplier List – PSL), securing competition in the supplier base.
- Implement ways of working according to client's Category Management Framework including the delivery of Category targets and KPI’s for assigned group of spend categories.
- Business Intelligence, benchmark and market insight to support category development.
- The Senior Category Manager, with the sub-category Team, are responsible for securing and tracking cost reduction, contract management and continuity of Supply Chain.
- Strategic Sourcing Prepare & execute the RFx process in collaboration with stakeholders including supplier evaluation and selection, supplier negotiations (costs and contract).
- Contribute to the long-term business ensuring competitive initial cost and total cost development in the product and service life cycle and maintenance of the specific supplier contract for products and services.
- Contract Management Prepare and execute a Contract which is appropriate to the scope, value and risk outlined in the sourcing strategy, ensuring all relevant stakeholders have contributed and approved as appropriate.
- Administer the Contract in accordance with all of the terms and conditions ensuring contract compliance.
- Ensure appropriate management of commercial risks, forecast spend and change impacts with key stakeholders.
- Supplier Relationship Management Suppliers segmented and managed (quality, performance, risk) in accordance with the client's Supplier Relationship Management Framework.
- Monitor and mitigate supplier risks (including CoC, Environmental & Health and Safety as well as dependency on the client and client dependency on the supplier), make corrective action plans for the identified risks.
- Supplier Strategies for key suppliers within assigned group of spend categories.
- Stakeholders Collaboration Secure stakeholders involvement and participation in category strategies, sourcing activities and supplier relationship management activities and share SCM category strategies, PSL, supplier performance etc.
Essential Requirements:
- MCIPS or working towards.
An active SC clearance is required for this role. At a minimum, candidates must be eligible and willing to undergo security clearance. Due to the short-term nature of the contract and the urgency of the requirement, the client may prioritise applicants who already hold active SC clearance and meet all essential criteria.
Our Company:
Malikshaw Interim & Executive is a specialist provider of talent management solutions helping our clients transform the delivery of our public services. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we combine providing the best talent with delivering diverse, inclusive workforces and particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ people, and women.
How to Apply:
Please apply through the link provided to send your application directly to the Recruiter managing this assignment.
Disability Confident:
As a member of the disability confident scheme, the Client guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.
Armed Forces Covenant:
As a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, the Client guarantees to interview all veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.
If you qualify for any of the above, please notify us on your covering letter and your recruiter will confirm if the client is a member. We will then be in touch to discuss your suitability and arrange your Guaranteed Interview.
Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a more accessible way for us to communicate, please do let me know.
- Develop and implement Category Strategies for assigned sub-group of categories, balancing short and long-term objectives to meet business strategy and efficiencies (savings) in alignment with business stakeholders.
