Senior Category Manager - Operations

AWE is recruiting a Senior Category Manager to implement category strategy and manage day to day C&PS (Consultancy and Professional Services) organisational requirements and associated activities.

Location:RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking. (Plans to relocate to Green Park, Reading in Summer 2025).

Package: £60,000 to £80,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

Let us introduce the role

As the Senior Category Manager, you will be developing and implementing category strategy, supporting and executing strategic sourcing activities and supplier relationship management.

You will monitor and drive supplier performance, assist with the development of supplier value including planning and preparation of external management review meetings, and drive operational efficiency in alignment with the Commercial Processes and Strategies.

You will be accountable for directing and implementing category strategy for professional services and tendering for multi-million-pound contracts. Supporting and operating frameworks, building and managing relationships with senior stakeholders to seek and influence strategy endorsement. As part of your role you will:

• Ensure end-to-end management of all contracts within area of accountability.

• Utilise various forms of contract terms (e.g. NEC, AWE Standard Terms) for the preparation, analysis, negotiation, award and delivery of contracts.

• Contribute to the development of commercial strategy and delivering activities and programmes to support achievement of the AWE Vision, Mission and Strategic Objectives.

• Management of allocated supplier relationships (where appropriate).

• Leading, coaching and developing a team of leaders and influencing others at specialism or functional level to create and develop operational plans.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking procurement specialists with strong stakeholder management skills, who have previous public sector procurement experience or worked in a highly regulated environment and understands the importance of governance.

Those that have achieved CIPS are at an advantage, although currently studying or planning to study will be considered.

Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we'd like you to have experience in some of the following:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex contractual arrangements, framework agreements.

• Strategic category management.

• Managing multiple stakeholders and priorities.

• Pricing arrangements e.g target cost incentive fee.

• Intellectual Property Rights, Trade Controls and Earned Value Management.

• Preparing tender packages, conducting tender conferences, developing evaluation criteria, analysing and evaluating proposals, negotiating subcontract provisions, subcontractor selection.

• Working within a Procurement Function.

• Delivering change programmes.

• Working in cross-functional teams across multiple programmes.

Some reasons we think you'll love it here:

AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.

• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).

• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.

• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.

• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).

• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.

• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically 1-2 days onsite per week.

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