Procurement Category Manager - IT & Professional Services

Procurement Category Manager - IT & Professional Services

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Permanent, full‑time (37 hours per week). £43,703 – £47,941 per annum, plus a potential market supplement up to £3,000 based on experience and qualifications.

The Procurement Business Partner is part of the Strategic Procurement team and plays a crucial role in supporting the NOC's mission by providing professional procurement expertise. This position presents an exciting opportunity to join NOC Procurement as we advance our procurement strategies and evolve into a sustainable, innovative, agile, and strategic function.

This role acts as a Business Partner, strategic advisor, and procurement SME to nominated functions within the organisation, forging strong stakeholder relationships to deliver best practice procurement. You will support day‑to‑day operations and NOC projects by designing, implementing, and managing procurement strategies that align with stakeholder goals.

As a team operating in a fast‑paced, high‑tech, and scientific environment, we seek an innovative thinker capable of embracing ambiguity and collaborating effectively with key stakeholders. We are looking for an enthusiastic, tenacious, and resilient procurement specialist to support procurement activities across various categories, potentially including scientific or technical categories. This role involves ensuring high levels of service, maintaining governance and compliance with public procurement regulations (including the Procurement Act 2023), and promoting best practices across the supply chain.

As a Procurement Business Partner for IT & Professional Services, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the National Oceanography Centre’s mission by delivering expert procurement solutions across a diverse range of technology and professional service categories. You will work closely with stakeholders to develop and implement procurement strategies that enable innovation, efficiency, and value for money, while ensuring compliance with public sector regulations and NOC policies.

We are seeking a candidate with a robust background in procurement, capable of effectively managing and prioritising multiple projects while fostering strong stakeholder relationships. Even if you cannot demonstrate all of the requirements, you will have:

• Experience acting as a subject matter expert and trusted business partner within cross‑functional teams, supporting IT and professional services procurement initiatives.
• Proven ability to deliver innovative sourcing solutions for complex IT and consultancy requirements, adapting to changing business and technology needs.
• Strong relationship management skills within a matrix organization, influencing stakeholders across IT, Finance, and Operations.
• Skilled in assessing organisational needs, translating these into clear supplier requirements, and evaluating proposals/contracts for IT and professional services.
• Knowledge of public sector procurement regulations and procedures, including compliance with the Procurement Act 2023.
• Experience creating category plans based on market, cost, and supplier analysis for IT services, ERP systems, and consultancy frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability in supplier relationship management, including performance oversight and whole‑life contract management for IT and professional services.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating supplier terms and preparing tender/framework documentation for technology and consultancy projects.
• Familiarity with a wide range of procurement solutions, including negotiation and competitive tendering for IT and professional services.
• Experience with ERP systems (Unit4 advantageous) and exposure to large public tenders, Public Contracting Regulations, and procurement reporting and analytics.

We offer a generous set of benefits, including:
- 30 days contractual annual leave, plus 3.5 extra closure days and bank holidays
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme, offering free and anonymous support on mental, physical, emotional, health…