Senior Category Manager
| Job Type | Contract |
| Location | Reading/ Hybrid |
| Area | South East, UK |
| Sector | Procurement & Commercial |
| Salary | £77 Per Hour |
| Start Date | August 3rd, 2026 |
| Advertiser | Jack Latter |
| Job Ref | 7613-PSR1JP00104596 |
| IR35 | Outside |
| Security Clearance | SC |
- Description
- The Client:
A government client is looking for a Senior Category Manager to join them on a 9 month contract. This position will be based in Reading/ Hybrid.
Job Summary:
Top 3 Evaluation Criteria
- Specialist Security Knowledge – Category knowledge in a highly regulated environment with a working knowledge of NPSA security standards
- Proven experience operating under PA23, PCR2015 or equivalent public sector procurement regulations.
- Skilled in developing category strategies, sourcing plans and supplier performance reporting.
Essential:
- Experience procuring security-related categories within highly regulated environments.
- Strong knowledge of category management, strategic sourcing and supplier markets.
- Expertise delivering complex procurement projects and commercial outcomes independently.
- Working knowledge of NPSA security standards and government procurement requirements.
- Proven experience operating under PA23, PCR2015 or equivalent public sector procurement regulations.
- Can navigate through the legislation, restricted tenders and national competitive tenders.
- Skilled in developing category strategies, sourcing plans and supplier performance reporting.
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 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 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 Supplier Relationship Management Framework. Monitor and mitigate supplier risks (including CoC, Environmental & Health and Safety as well as dependency on the client and client's 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.
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.
- Specialist Security Knowledge – Category knowledge in a highly regulated environment with a working knowledge of NPSA security standards
