Are you an experienced procurement professional looking to make a real impact? We're looking for a Category Manager to lead strategic sourcing and contract management activity across designated categories, ensuring we deliver value for money, manage risk effectively and support operational excellence across the business.

Working closely with stakeholders and suppliers, you will develop and implement category strategies, lead sourcing activity, manage supplier performance and ensure contracts deliver long-term value. This is an exciting opportunity to influence strategic decision making and support continuous improvement across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category strategies that support business objectives, maximise value and manage commercial risk.
• Lead sourcing and procurement activities, ensuring fair, compliant and commercially effective processes.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders to understand requirements and develop procurement solutions.
• Manage supplier relationships and contract performance, ensuring delivery against agreed outcomes.
• Analyse spend, market trends and supplier performance data to support decision making and identify opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with finance and operational teams to track savings, forecast benefits and provide performance reporting.

Why should I join LiveWest?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative procurement team where you'll play a key role in delivering commercial value and supporting business success. You'll have the opportunity to influence strategic decisions, work with a wide range of stakeholders and further develop your expertise in category management, contract governance and supplier relationship management within a purpose-driven organisation.

This is a full time role working 37 hours per week.

Hybrid Working is available for this role working 2-3 days in the office dependent on business need. You will be based from our Tewksbury, Wolverhampton, or Norwich office.

For further information about this role, and LiveWest, please view our candidate information pack.

To be successful in your application for the role of Category Manager, you will have the essential skills and experience for a level 3 role (please see candidate information pack) and the following role specific skills and experience:

Essential Skills

• Strong stakeholder management and supplier engagement skills.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage at all levels.
• Strong negotiation and commercial awareness.
• Effective project management and organisational skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and numeracy skills.
• Good proficiency in Microsoft 365.

Essential Experience

• Experience in category management, strategic procurement or a similar commercial role.
• Experience leading sourcing and procurement activities.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and supplier performance.
• Experience of contract management and governance.
• Experience analysing spend and financial data to support decision making.
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Knowledge

• Understanding of category management and strategic sourcing methodologies.
• In depth knowledge of IT Goods and Services or Compliance Services categories
• Knowledge of contract management and supplier governance principles.
• Understanding of procurement best practice and risk management.
• Knowledge of supplier performance management approaches.
• Understanding of commercial and financial analysis techniques.
• Awareness of market analysis and procurement trends.

Essential Qualifications

• Educated to A-Level standard or equivalent experience.
• Chartered membership of Institute of Procurement  or working towards it (or an equivalent professional qualification)

Desirable Skills, Experience, Knowledge and Qualifications

• Experience developing and implementing category strategies.
• Experience of regulated procurement including PA23
• Experience working within a large or complex organisation.
• Familiarity with ERP, CRM, MRP and cloud-based business systems.
• Experience delivering procurement projects across multiple categories.
• Knowledge of post-award contract governance and supplier relationship management.
• Membership of CIPS or an equivalent professional qualification.

Please note, we are unable to provide CoS for this role; therefore, applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of this role without requiring a CoS.

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• Working Style: Hybrid working with 2 - 3 days in the office to support your work/life balance.
• Generous Annual Leave: Start with 26 days, plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with length of service - and the option to purchase up to 5 extra days (pro rated for part time roles).
• Pension Contributions: Enjoy up to 9% employer contributions with our Defined Contribution scheme.
• Health Benefits and Perks: Access to a health care cash plan (worth up to £1,100 annually), virtual GP services, discounted gym memberships, and retail discounts including access to a Blue Light Card.
• Learning and Development: Invest in your future with ongoing personal and professional growth opportunities.
• Family Support: Policies designed to help you balance work and family life, including a new child payment.
• Wellbeing Matters: Prioritise your health with mental health support, enhanced sick pay, wellness campaigns, and free flu jabs.
• Smarter Travel: Save with our Cycle to Work and Car Benefit schemes.
• Giving Back: Up to four paid volunteering days a year to support our communities.