Strategic Category Lead

<p><strong>Strategic Category Lead needed in Worcester Paying  £400 per day ref 1727573</strong></p> <p><strong>Full time hours on a temporary basis</strong></p> <p><em>Key Responsibilities</em></p> <ul> <li>Lead the development, management and delivery of category strategies aligned to organisational objectives and commercial best practice</li> <li>Identify and implement innovative procurement and sourcing solutions to maximise savings and deliver required outcomes</li> <li>Provide expert procurement advice and support, applying Category Management principles across a range of contracts and services</li> <li>Develop strong stakeholder relationships to identify saving opportunities and improve value and benefits from third‑party spend</li> <li>Ensure all procurement activity complies with current public procurement regulations, internal governance requirements and policies</li> <li>Champion and embed ethical, sustainable and socially responsible procurement practices across all activity</li> <li>Lead complex or high‑value procurement exercises, including negotiations, contractual variations and dispute resolution, to minimise risk and achieve best outcomes</li> <li>Advise senior stakeholders on the commercial and financial viability of sourcing options including in‑house delivery, outsourcing, partnerships, collaboration, frameworks and standard procurement routes</li> <li>Lead the development and implementation of category plans in partnership with service areas and commissioners, ensuring stakeholder engagement throughout delivery</li> <li>Deliver procurement guidance, briefings and training on legislation, policy and best practice where required</li> </ul> <p>If you are interested in the role, please email your CV to verity@essentialemploy.co.uk quoting the reference number. </p> <p>Essential Employment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. Essential Employment is an Equal Opportunities Employer.</p> <p>All our roles may be subject to pre-employment checks including references so please be prepared</p>