Category Manager - Professional Services

On behalf of AWE, we are looking for a Category Manager
- Professional Services (InsideIR
35) for a 6 month contract based hybrid in Reading. Office attendance is 2 days a week.

What if you could work on something that you can't test... but cannot afford to fail? Something that could have spent years on a submarine, is launched into outer space (where the temperature is below
-250c), comes hurtling through the atmosphere, being heated up and shaken and then must work? Some challenge. That’s exactly what the team of over 6,500 people at AWE do every day delivering important work, in support of the most important mission - keeping the nation safe.

AWE plays a crucial role in national nuclear security. Their role in nuclear deterrence and their specialist technical assistance to nuclear threat reduction is vital in the defence against the most serious threats faced by the UK. Working to support the defence of our country, AWE has a clear mission to keep everyone, the environment, their products and information, sites, and everything around them, safe and secure.

This role will focus on the procurement of Professional Services and Consultancy spend categories, supporting strategic sourcing activities, supplier management, procurement delivery, and stakeholder engagement across a diverse range of business projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced procurement professional who enjoys managing multiple procurement initiatives, engaging with senior stakeholders, and driving value through effective sourcing and supplier relationship management.

As a Category Manager
- Professional Services, your main responsibilities will be to:

PLEASE NOTE:

Active SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.

• Deliver category management and strategic sourcing activities across assigned indirect spend categories.
• Support and execute category strategies to achieve business objectives, cost efficiencies, and risk mitigation.
• Lead end-to-end procurement and tendering activities, including RFx processes, supplier evaluation, negotiations, contract award, and implementation.
• Manage procurement activity through established frameworks and call-off agreements, including CCS and other public sector frameworks.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders to understand business requirements and provide procurement guidance.
• Manage supplier performance, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations, KPIs, and SLAs.
• Support supplier relationship management activities, including supplier segmentation, performance reviews, risk assessment, and mitigation planning.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and operational improvements across the supply chain.
• Conduct market analysis, supplier benchmarking, and commercial assessments to support procurement decisions.
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with relevant procurement regulations, internal policies, governance requirements, and ethical standards.
• Manage multiple procurement projects simultaneously, prioritising workload effectively to meet business demands.

• Strong experience managing professional services and consultancy procurement activities.
• Proven experience delivering end-to-end procurement and tendering processes.
• Public sector or regulated industry experience.
• Strong knowledge of public procurement regulations, including:
• Public Contracts Regulations (PCR 2015)
• Utilities Contracts…