Category Manager x 2

Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid                                   

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working to a minimum of 34 hours. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Work location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be mandatory attendance once a month with the option to attend weekly as desired. 

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

Procurement Services is a well-respected team that provides expert procurement advice to colleagues across the University in purchasing a wide range of goods and services that are vital in the delivery of the University’s mission.

The team helps ensure that procurement activities obtain value for money and comply with all legal obligations through robust and responsible procurement processes.   

What you get in return

We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of your training and development needs.

We also offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Staff Benefits include an attractive pension proposition and 33 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus 8 Bank Holidays and 3 extra Christmas closure days.

The role

Due to internal career progression and the expansion of the team, we are recruiting for two (2) Category Managers positions to support the Digital Services and STEM categories. The Category Manager role is a key role in the team which provides a professional procurement service including, stakeholder engagement, tendering, commercial negotiation, and supplier management to internal customers, ensuring that value for money is achieved, and procurement decisions consider financial, environmental, health & safety and ethical policies and regulations.

Key responsibilities

• Work with key stakeholders to develop sourcing strategies for procurement projects providing advice and guidance on potential procurement routes and evaluation approaches, having considered all key commercial and regulatory risks.
• Manage tendering activity in accordance with internal and external policies and regulations.
• Working in collaboration with key stakeholders, develop appropriate tender documentation ensuring sourcing projects are delivered efficiently and effectively.
• Manage post tender clarifications and negotiations with suppliers, taking legal advice where required, securing the best possible terms and conditions.
• Report preparation, such as post tender evaluation reports and management information reports to support category plans, pipeline planning and savings reporting.
• Review, manage and action purchase requisitions, single source justification, new vendor and low value contract requests to ensure they are processed and executed in line with university policies.
• Liaise with the requisitioner, suppliers and other stakeholders such as legal services and data protection teams where required to ensure appropriate contractual documents are in place for purchases.
• Proactively assess and resolve procurement queries and issues related to projects or requisitions as required.
• Proactively build and maintain networks and working relationships with stakeholders across the University at multiple levels using appropriate verbal and written communications (e.g. meetings, phone, email, reports).
• Undertake specific tasks and projects at the request of the Head of Procurement, Deputy Head of Procurement and Senior Category Manager.

Skills and experience

Essential

• CIPS qualified or commensurate experience
• Experience or knowledge of public sector procurement, PCR 2015 and an awareness of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) and / or experience of procuring software, systems, IT related hardware and digital related services or specialist laboratory equipment.
• Excellent communication and commercial negotiation skills, ability to network with stakeholders at all levels of the business.
• Experience of working with staff at all levels to develop project sourcing strategies for key areas of spend.
• Experience of preparing and drafting tender documentation under official PCR 2015 procurement procedures, public sector frameworks and sub-PCR threshold procurements.
• Experience reviewing, drafting and negotiation of commercial contractual documents.

Desirable

• Knowledge of data protection principles and experience of GDPR legislation.
• Understanding of information and cyber security practices.
• Completed PA23 Government Commercial College training.
• Knowledge of Responsible Procurement principles and sustainability practices.
• Understanding of research grant funding and related procurements.

How to apply

Please click 'Apply’ button above to be redirected to our application page.

Early closing date notification

We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.

Closing Date: 10 November 2024