Category Specialist

Northumbria University

  • Newcastle
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 13 days ago
Job Description:ABOUT THE ROLEThe Category Specialist is responsible for all aspects of the development and implementation of an operational category plan and the underlying sourcing plans, supplier and contract management as well as policy and regulatory compliance.Together with the other members of the Procurement team, the Category Specialist will ensure that the operational category plan is fully integrated and adopted within relevant Faculties and Services.Further information is available in theABOUT THE TEAMWe are a growing multi-talented team of Category Managers, Specialists and Buyers. Working closely with our colleagues in the wider Finance team and Legal Services, we provide specialist purchasing advice, undertake all tendering requirements and ensure regulatory compliance in support of our teaching and research activities.ABOUT YOUTo be successful in the role you will have experience in leading the development and implementation of the Operational Category Plan, undertaking tenders and supplier commercial and contract negotiations as well as developing and managing effective supplier relationships.You are able to build strategic relationships with key stakeholders to achieve a position as trusted advisor on procurement and commercial matters and have good knowledge of current procurement regulations.You are CIPS qualified to level 5 or have equivalent experience.Further information is available in the .If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contactTo apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now'. Your application should include a covering letter and a CV.ABOUT USAt Northumbria, we embrace tomorrow. We pursue new thinking, forge new partnerships, create, and exchange new knowledge, and find new solutions. Our inspirational academics, partners and students work together to tackle tomorrow's challenges head on. We are ready for the future whatever it may hold.Awarded the title of in the 2022 Times Higher Education Awards, Northumbria University is a research-intensive modern university with a global reputation for academic excellence.Northumbria recorded the biggest rise of any UK university for research power in the Research Excellence Framework for the second time in 2021 and is now ranked top 25 for this measure.One of the largest universities in the UK with over 37,000 students from 137 countries, filled with world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and students at the heart of an outstanding experience, Northumbria is a new kind of excellent university. Discover more .Northumbria University is a great place to work. We empower our exceptional people to achieve shared ambitions and promote a positive work life balance. To say thank you, we offer a wide range of benefits including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, a generous holiday entitlement, continued commitment to your learning and development and .We are an on-campus organisation where colleagues work regular patterns of hours and on campus, with some flexibility on the timing of their hours and the location of their work in discussion with their manager.Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our staff. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Employer, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme.The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.Responsibilities:Lead, develop and implement the Procurement and Operational Management Plan for the assigned Category, including
  • Setting the direction of the assigned Category, leading the development and implementation of the Operational Category Plan based on market knowledge and (Category) data analysis in order to support the University's strategic goals
  • Developing and implementing sourcing plans for new projects and key renewals ensuring that these strategies deliver clear Value for Money benefits, both through the achievement of direct procurement savings, and through integration into and proactive influencing of finance and other activities across the University
  • Providing operational commercial and procurement advice to key stakeholders as well as procurement process advice to stakeholders and other teams involved in or dependent on procurement activities
  • Running tenders and leading supplier commercial and contract negotiations
  • Review and negotiate commercial and operational contractual documents with minimal support from Legal Services
  • Implement effective supplier and contract management for key suppliers, including management of KPIs and performance dashboards
Qualifications:You will have an undergraduate degree, preferably in a discipline relevant to the role, and/or substantial professional experience and be CIPS qualified to level 5 or have extensive equivalent experience.

Northumbria University