Category Manager

Category Manager

8 Months

£61/Hr Inside IR35

Until March 2027

Location, Reading Hybrid

Clearance: SC

We are seeking a Category Manager for our Government client based in Reading. This role will be a mix of office and remote based working.

This role is inside IR35 - Due to the service of the role it will now be based on an Umbrella solution.

Clearance: SC

Role Profile:

• Develop and implement category strategies for assigned areas, balancing short- and long-term objectives to support business goals and deliver efficiencies and cost savings in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Support and deliver strategic sourcing activities in line with approved category strategies and preferred supplier lists, including managing RFx processes, supplier evaluation and selection, contract negotiation, award, and handover to the business in accordance with organisational requirements and policies.
• Contribute to supplier relationship management for key suppliers, including segmentation, contract management, risk identification and mitigation, and performance oversight.
• Monitor and drive supplier performance, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations through the use of performance scorecards, key performance indicators (KPIs), and service level agreements (SLAs), and pursue appropriate remedies for non-compliance.
• Assist in developing supplier value by planning and preparing external review meetings with key suppliers, including management and executive business reviews, in line with agreed supplier strategies.
• Promote operational efficiency in alignment with supply chain processes and strategies, ensuring all activities meet supply chain and category team targets.
• Deliver cost-effective category solutions and business models for assigned categories through effective strategy execution.
• Manage the supplier base, including classification and maintenance of preferred supplier lists, ensuring a competitive supply market.
• Apply consistent ways of working in line with the organisation's category management framework, delivering agreed category targets and KPIs.
• Engage stakeholders to ensure active participation in category strategies, sourcing activities, and supplier relationship management, and communicate relevant updates such as category plans, preferred suppliers, and supplier performance.

If you are interested in the above, hit the Apply now button!

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As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, Circle and our 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.

Our client is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, they guarantee to interview all veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where they have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, they will interview the best candidates from within that group.

If you qualify, please notify us on We will 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 better way for us to communicate, please do let us know.

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