Assistant Category Manager

An outstanding opportunity for a Procurement Professional to join an established team at one of the UK’s most prestigious and globally renowned Universities. Working closely with the Senior Category Manager for Digital & Technology, the Assistant Category Manager will support the wide range of procurement activity across the University. Collaborating with senior stakeholders, driving value for money, advising on routes to market and supporting a culture of best practice principles for purchasing.

• Support the Senior Category Managers to deliver a sustainable procurement service for Digital & Technology, from sourcing strategy through to the development and drafting of specifications, competitive tendering, supplier evaluation and selection, contract management and monitoring.
• Support procurement strategies for Digital & Technology ensuring the best route to market, including the use of tenders, frameworks (GCloud, LUPC, GCA) and development of UAL frameworks for call off.
• Champion the use of the eMarketplace for high volume spend, engaging with suppliers and stakeholders to rationalise suppliers.
• Support a culture of procurement best practice, early engagement with Procurement, signposting and delivering value for money for sustainable purchasing.
• Develop a culture of robust supplier relationship management, providing training and guidance to stakeholders, ensuring adherence to contract obligations.
• Keep up to date with existing and proposed legislation and regulatory requirements to ensure your effectiveness as a procurement professional within the assigned category.
• Maintain the Contracts Register, Procurement tracker and procurement pipeline tracker so it can be utilised for workload planning, risk management and monitoring performance.
• Provide category management reporting, analysing markets and spend to support category procurement strategies.

• Offering a Hybrid work pattern and operating out of expansive offices within the historic Central Saint Martin’s college (less than 10 minutes-walk from Kings Cross Station), this is a vibrant and modern team environment with an expectation that staff work a minimum of 2 days onsite.

• Previous experience working on procurement projects with in a Digital & Technology category area
• Track record managing multiple procurement projects in a complex environment.
• Knowledge of procurement practices, procurement law, EU/UK procurement directives (Public Contract Regulations 2015/Procurement Act 2023 desirable but not essential).
• Personable and self-motivated with the ability to influence and engage with Key Stakeholders and liaise confidently with a broad range of IT Suppliers.
• You’ll ideally be CIPS qualified or working towards qualification.