Principal Category Manager

Ref: 5921(JM)
Pay Rate: £60.22 per hour PAYE
IR35: INSIDE
Contract Length: 18 MONTHS
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Green Park, Reading - 2/3 days per week in office - Site visits to Aldermaston/Burghfield once/twice a month

Security Clearance: DV desirable however, candidate with SC will be consider and if successful, will be put through DV only SC live/active
Sole UK nationals ideal
Dual nationals can be considered

Our client is seeking an experienced Principal Category Manager to lead the development and delivery of commercial and procurement strategies across complex infrastructure and construction portfolios. This is a senior role with responsibility for strategic sourcing, framework management, and leadership of a commercial team, operating within a public sector regulatory environment.

You will play a critical role in shaping pre-contract commercial strategy, ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, and building strong relationships with senior stakeholders and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the commercial strategy for infrastructure and construction categories
• Manage and motivate a commercial team of approximately 6 staff, including task allocation and performance oversight
• Produce and implement sourcing and category strategies, with a strong pre-contract focus
• Lead the commercial strategy for external frameworks, including establishment, management, and utilisation
• Deliver end-to-end procurement activity in line with organisational objectives
• Ensure compliance with the Procurement Act, procurement regulations, and internal governance
• Act as a senior commercial adviser to stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership
• Support the delivery of complex infrastructure and construction programmes
• Apply and advise on NEC contracts (NEC3/NEC4, preference for NEC4)

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience leading a commercial or procurement strategy team
• Line management and task management experience for a multi-disciplinary team
• Demonstrable experience producing sourcing strategies
• Strong experience working with and leading external framework commercial strategies
• Extensive procurement delivery experience, particularly pre-contract
• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate strategy into delivery
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, both internal and external, written and verbal
• Solid understanding of the Procurement Act and public procurement regulations
• Public sector procurement experience (essential)
• Experience delivering infrastructure and/or construction procurement strategies
• Working knowledge of NEC3 or NEC4 contracts (NEC4 preferred)

Desirable Experience

• Experience liaising with or advising Executive/Board-level stakeholders
• Experience using Jaggaer, Oracle Fusion, and/or CEMAR
• NEC accreditation

Technology & Systems

• Competent user of standard Microsoft Office packages
• Experience with the following systems is desirable but not essential:
• Jaggaer
• CEMAR
• Oracle Fusion

Qualifications

• MCIPS or equivalent - desirable but not essential