Category Manager

Description

The Commercial function provides commercial and procurement capability across the programme lifecycle, including strategy (setting the commercial strategy and advising risk allocation underpinning the delivery strategy), delivering procurement activities for the goods and services required to deliver the asset and run EWR Co, and delivering contract management services for the complex network of suppliers supporting EWR Co. Across all three of these domains the commercial function will run governance and reporting to measure compliance and provide commercial assurance.

Working as part of a team of Category Managers within the Services & Supplies team, the role will work with the wider Commercial function and key stakeholders to assist them to carry out their duties effectively by managing the procurement activities above threshold and/or medium risk requirements across complex spend categories. The role will ensure that all procurement activities fully comply with UK Public Procurement Regulations, Cabinet Office Commercial Policy, and the organisation’s internal governance framework, supporting the efficient and compliant delivery of the project. The Category Manager will collaborate with relevant customers and stakeholders to create and deliver significant commercial and contractual value.

• Act as a role model for EWR Co’s vision and behaviours, working in ways that are aligned with EWR Co’s Ways of Working, as well as encouraging and supporting others to do so too.
• Ensure transparency, fairness, and auditability throughout the sourcing lifecycle.
• Supports business units in articulating their commercial requirements.
• Take responsibility of your own and others’ health and safety by adopting and working to the EWR Co Health and Safety principles.
• Support the development and implementation of best practice procurement processes, tools, and templates.
• Provide ongoing support the business, maintaining continuity of services and commercial compliance through the lifecycle of the contract and ensuring that contract variations, extensions, and modifications are managed in compliance with public procurement requirements. This requires seeking business buy-in and understanding as to how the contract will be managed once the sourcing project is complete and supporting the seamless transition to contract management.
• Lead the procurement process from business requirement to contract signature, on behalf of key customers and stakeholders, to create and extract value.
• Contribute to reporting on savings, procurement pipeline, and compliance metrics.
• Develop and implement of procurement specific ideas and innovation-based business cases, working in collaboration with relevant customers and stakeholders, to address existing business problems that require external sourcing specific market expertise to solve.
• Advise stakeholders on the use of public sector frameworks or competitive procurement routes, balancing commercial outcomes with legal compliance.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, aggregation, and framework utilisation (e.g., CCS, Crown Commercial Service frameworks).
• Negotiate procurement enabled savings and benefit opportunities, in collaboration with all relevant customers and stakeholders, with the commercial capability, tenacity and ambition to deliver value
• Works with key stakeholders to develop a clear and agreed view of business requirements.
• Develops category strategies, providing advice and guidance on sectors and suppliers and managing stakeholder expectations.
• Apply the relevant internal guidance and processes for procurement led opportunities above threshold to manage all risk, governance, legislative and regulatory requirements, validated by the relevant commercial assurance team.

Requirements

Exceptional IT tools

• Relevant experience within a procurement role in a service-delivery focussed organisation demonstrating strong analytical skills.
• Experience using e-sourcing and contract management systems (e.g., Jaggaer, Delta, or similar platforms) for tendering and supplier communication.
• Excellent organisational skills, and meticulous attention to detail.
• Demonstratable knowledge of contract law and financial management.
• Ability to form strong interpersonal relationships.
• Knowledge of contracting models such as Framework Agreements, DPS (Dynamic Purchasing Systems), and Call-Off Contracts.
• Demonstrable level of problem-solving experience of complex sourcing specific challenges.
• Familiarity with Crown Commercial Service frameworks, e.g., G-Cloud, Technology Services, and Technology Products frameworks.
• Able to develop options for a business case, including articulating associated benefits and producing supporting arguments for the preferred option.
• In-depth understanding of UK Public Procurement Regulations, including PCR 2015, Procurement Act 2023, and Find a Tender (FTS) processes.
• Deep knowledge of procurement processes, including familiarity with relevant regulatory requirements with a demonstratable track record of savings/benefits realisation. Demonstratable level of negotiation and dispute resolutions skills.
• MCIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) or working towards it.
• Ability to identify and apply relevant policy and procedures for procurement processes. You will bring strong project management and stakeholder management skills to this role.
• Excellent communication, relationship management and presentation skills.
• Demonstrates a cost-conscious mindset, keeping taxpayers’ money at the forefront of decisions.
• Experience in category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management within a Services environment.

Benefits

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution

Competitive base salary

EWR Co strives to embrace a flexible working environment, where a degree of flexibility is maintained to accommodate both the needs and preferences of employees and what is required to achieve business objectives. EWR Co will always work with any individual to assess and accommodate an individual’s work life balance and style

We are open to secondments through the Rail Industry Talent Exchange Programme.

Access to a range of benefits on the Perkbox platform

Advanced learning and development programmes

36 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) + up to 2 days to buy

Great work-life balance and flexible working opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Life assurance

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance