Category Manager

Advert

Category Manager

Cardiff University is recruiting a Category Manager to work within the Procurement section of the Finance Department.

You will lead on Procurement projects for goods, works or services, as allocated, being responsible for the preparation and delivery of a commercially focused category management strategy for your allocated categories within the relevant category portfolio. You will aim at ensuring continuity of supply, delivering value for money, influencing the wider impact of procurement on the Welsh economy, sustainability agenda and managing commercial and legislative risk relating to Procurement.

The post holder will also be a business partner for individual schools/departments, responsible for providing procurement advice, market analysis and working with the schools/departments to identify opportunities to create compliant contracts, reduce cost, improve efficiency and support sustainability initiatives in the process building a pipeline of procurement activity. This role will be of strategic importance to the value creation within the schools/departments and the university’s supply chain, including but not limited to the local economy.

You will understand the local and organisational business environment and deliver procurement solutions that provide optimal value and outcomes for the University whilst meeting our regulatory obligations.

The post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended.

Salary: £39,347 - £44,263 per annum (Grade 6)

Cardiff University offers many excellent benefits, including 37 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays) pro-rata for part-time hours, pension scheme with employer’s contribution, blended working (meaning you will be able to work from home for some of your time), a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments up the pay scale, and more. It is an exciting and vibrant place to work and is a proud Living Wage supporter.

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 17 April 2024

Closing date: Wednesday, 8 May 2024

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Key Duties

• Responsible for proactively project managing the delivery of multiple end-to-end procurement processes and practices within their client group concurrently, ensuring potential issues are anticipated and planned for within long term time frames. The post holder will manage the complete set of procurement activities from pre procurement activities to contract award in line with agreed Procurement Policy, Procedures and current Regulations
• Create sub-category strategies for multiple allocated category areas and deliver relevant strategies in coordination with Senior Category Manager and stakeholders.
• Input into the operational plans and business needs of the department in accordance with the University’s Strategic Plan.
• Ensure effective communication of University contracts to schools/departments.
• Build influential internal relationships to ensure Procurement objectives are fully understood and embedded.
• Support contract management of key suppliers.
• Proactively engage with schools and departments to identify efficiency and savings opportunities and provide procurement guidance.
• Take an active role in project boards to ensure early procurement engagement
• Represent Procurement at internal and external meetings as required.
• Implementing the university’s Sustainable Procurement Policy to make a significant contribution to its environmental, social, governance and economic goals.

Operational

• Provide professional advice & guidance to customers relating to university procurement services proactively, using key advances within procurement to ensure future issues are anticipated and appropriate advice given to mitigate these
• Instruct and guide other employees across the University in the application and operation of procurement as needed
• Provide operational  support within the department and to the Senior Category Managers.(deputising where required), planning and delivering on projects and supervising project  teams as needed
• Investigate and analyse expenditure, volume and type of suppliers, expenditure trends, internal user profiles, and supply market trends, making recommendations through advice and repprts e.g. on standardisation and rationalisation of contracts and leveraging economies of scale
• Use and continuously improve agreed procedures to competitively tender, and negotiate effectively with suppliers, to establish procurement contracts and framework agreements that demonstrate best value for money consistent with the University’s profile as a major corporate organisation.
• Maintain accurate records & files generally, and auditable records of all procurement processes to ensure  high process compliance.
• Review and maintain pricelists on our catalogue management system, E-marketplace.
• Maintain up to date savings captured – in line with the relevant savings methodology
• Ensure a detailed understanding of all regional and nationals consortia and other public sector framework agreements open to the University in relevant category areas and provide a contribution in categories of importance to the university.

Continued in Additional Information...

Person Specification

Your application will be assessed against the following essential and desirable criteria for the role. Please copy and paste this section into a new document and give clear examples of how you can evidence meeting each criteria by writing under each one. You can draw on elements from any aspect of your life (e.g. work, home, education/qualifications or community life) as long as you focus on their relevance to the role.

Please save your supporting statement in a separate document with the title [YOURNAME - 18255BR - JOB TITLE] and attach it to your application in the recruitment system.

Please note that these are also the criteria shortlisted applicants will be assessed against at interview and/or by other means (e.g. a skills test) where applicable.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

MCIPS qualified or working towards MCIPS or degree in relevant business-related subject as well as experience of qualifications in project management but not limited to Prince 2 Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge

Substantial experience of working with procurement, supply chain or relevant commercial environment including experience of liaising the legal teams and/or suppliers around agreeing terms of contract.

Evidence of experience and knowledge of specific product or service markets, with the ability to exploit them through the application of well-developed procurement skills. 

Evidence of achieving savings and/or value through procurement activities.

Proven experience in developing new processes and procedures.

Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments

Evidence of using negotiation or influencing stakeholders and/ or suppliers to make efficiencies Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people.

Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered..

Planning, Analysis and Problem solving

Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identify and propose both practical and innovative solutions

Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within specialist discipline and ability to undertake and deliver specific projects and supervise short term project teams

Desirable Criteria

Experience of working in a Higher Education environment.

Extensive experience of working in a procurement function in a public sector environment, or other large multi-disciplinary organisation.

Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

Additional Information

Continued from Job Description...

Networks and Co-Working

• Collaborate to make recommendations for the ongoing development of established internal processes and procedures.
• Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University’s Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as required.  
• Proactively engage with internal stakeholders to prioritise procurement activity, resource allocation and timescales for delivery.
• Represent the University’s procurement interests in delegated areas through communication & participation in relevant internal and external networks.
• Contribute effectively to the purchasing consultancy service to the University’s colleges/schools & departments in all aspects of regular communications, meetings, market & product intelligence, terms & conditions of trade, appropriate legislation, stock management, equipment disposal etc.
• Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve objectives.
• Promote and develop contact and liaison with external suppliers, and manage relevant business relationships, including performance monitoring & development, in accordance with specific legislation and the University’s procedures.
• Develop, contribute and deliver procurement training where appropriate to a variety of audiences

General Duties

• Engage in relevant continued professional development to maintain a knowledge and awareness of current legislation, policy, practice and procedure in the post holder’s field of work and to keep others informed as appropriate. Undertake sector specific research as appropriate.
• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in respect of equality and diversity, data protection, copyright and licensing, security, financial and other University policies, procedures and codes as appropriate.
• To undertake any other duties which may reasonably be regarded as within the nature of the duties and responsibilities/grade of the post as defined, subject to the provision that normally any changes of a permanent nature shall be incorporated into the Job Description in specific terms.

Job Category

Accountancy & Finance, Management & Executive