Procurement Category Manager

Join a University that’s Building the Future.

Are you ready to take on a strategic procurement role where your expertise will directly influence the financial health, operational excellence, and future vision of a dynamic university? Our Procurement Team is seeking a driven and skilled Procurement Category Manager to lead the Estates category, ensuring best value in all areas of non-pay expenditure while supporting sustainable, innovative procurement strategies.

At our University, we invest up to £60 million annually on external goods, services, and works. This pivotal role will not only ensure compliance with Public Procurement Regulations but will also drive efficiencies and innovations that fuel the reinvestment essential for our academic and professional services vision, our ambitious Estates development programme, and our digital transformation strategy.

What You’ll Do:

•  Develop and lead robust, innovative procurement strategies across a diverse portfolio of works, goods, and services.

•  Provide expert advice to senior stakeholders, including Deans, Directors, and Operations Managers, ensuring compliance with Public Procurement Regulations while achieving optimal outcomes.

•  Manage complex tenders, Framework Agreements, and contracts to deliver value, mitigate risk, and promote sustainable procurement practices.

•  Lead cross-functional project teams, ensuring tender evaluations and contract awards are analytically sound, auditable, and challenge-resistant.

•  Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, identifying opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

•  Create and implement supplier management frameworks, driving exceptional service delivery and cost optimisation.

•  Benchmark procurement performance across the Higher Education sector and beyond, ensuring continuous improvement.

What We’re Looking For:

•  Strong experience in public sector procurement, ideally within estates, facilities, travel or similar categories.

•  A thorough understanding of Public Procurement Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.

•  Proven ability to lead complex procurement exercises from specification to contract closure.

•  Exceptional communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.

•  Demonstrated commitment to sustainable and ethical procurement practices.

•  Qualified or working towards CIPS Level 5 (as a minimum).

Why Join Us?

This role offers the chance to make a tangible impact on the University’s ability to achieve its goals. You’ll work within a forward-thinking, supportive team and have opportunities to engage with high-profile projects, develop innovative strategies, and shape the future of procurement in Higher Education.

Special Requirements:

•  Adherence to the CIPS Code of Ethics and the University’s Sustainable Procurement Policy.

•  Occasional travel to supplier meetings, regional consortia, and procurement working groups.

If you’re passionate about delivering best value, driving innovation, and championing sustainable procurement, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and play your part in building a better future.

This position does not meet the eligibility requirements forsponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route within the UK Visa and Immigrationservice’sPointsBased System.  Therefore, BU will not be able to sponsor individuals whorequire permission to work to carry out this position. For more information,please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job

The Finance and Procurement department provides advice and support on financial and commercial matters to teams across the university, as well as ensuring that all regulatory demands are adhered to and financial transactions are timely, complete, and accurate for all income and expenditure, including payroll. The Procurement team works with a wide range of suppliers, helping to manage all BU procurement activity and assisting and advising the University’s faculty and professional service departments in relation to their purchasing requirements.