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Senior Category Manager

Employer
Police Digital Service
Location
London (Central), London (Greater)
Salary
£70,000-£75,000 per annum
Closing date
25 Jul 2021

View more

Specialist Area
Contracts, Procurement, Category management
Job Level
Manager
Sector
Information Technology
Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
Full Time
CIPS Membership
CIPS member

Join the Police Digital Service as a Senior Category Manager 

We are looking for a Senior Category Manager who has experience to undertake allocated strategic, high value contract procurement and related procurement activities including market development, tendering, implementation, and monitoring of procurement contracts. Monitor the over-arching supplier market and key market suppliers in terms of performance and stability and co-ordinate across the other departments. Highlight and track risks where appropriate. Lead (and assist where required) on complex, strategic, contractual and commercial negotiations.

Police Digital Service is going through a significant period of growth and transformation, and the role holder will be given lots of opportunities to contribute to this. 

About Police Digital Service

We exist to harness the power of digital, data and technology to enable UK policing to better protect the communities it serves. Ours is a team of experts in commercial services, technical assurance, data, digital transformation and innovation, with a unique experience in policing and national programme delivery.

Why Join us?

  • Balance is important and we want you to take time off to recharge – so we offer 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 30 days after 5 years of service.
  • We care about your well-being – we have an employee assistance programme that offers not just welfare benefits and counselling at the end of a telephone line but also discounts.
  • We want to help you plan for the future – so we offer an excellent pension scheme and life assurance cover. 
  • We want you to be able to put your mind at rest regarding your health – offering remote GP, mental health and physiotherapy appointments via video consultation.

The Role and Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities (This list is not exhaustive)

  • Manage and undertake effective tendering activity for the whole procurement life cycle for high risk, high value ICT related contract procurements, in accordance with Public Contract Regulations 2015; implementation, monitoring and development of existing and new ICT contracts, including negotiating and setting contract specifications.
  • Utilise category management practices to profile, benchmark, research and assess the market. Manage procurement pilots, initiatives and product trials, and undertake market research for new or revised products, in conjunction with ICT stakeholders, and record evaluations and recommendations, gaining customer, and where appropriate, supplier feedback. This is to ensure products are of the appropriate quality and are financially viable/offer best value for use within forces.
  • Manage and develop supplier relationships and on-going negotiations for the assigned portfolio using procurement tools such as cost trend analysis, interpreting complex financial models and supplier performance reviews to monitor the quality and timeliness of goods and services provided. Ensure that an overall effective and efficient service is maintained to forces.
  • Identify, and where possible mitigate risks, ensuring that all such contracts are operated in accordance within Financial Regulations, Contract Standing Orders, national/EU guidelines, Public Contract Regulations 2015 and best practice.
  • Manage any assigned Category Managers and to include but not limited to: provide direction and leadership, undertaking staff appraisals, addressing welfare, capability and disciplinary issues and assist in the training and development of ICT staff. Assure the quality of their work for other allocated procurements. Provide advice, guidance, assistance and training to members of the organisation and those internal stakeholders who are responsible for ensuring contract management.
  • Provide a comprehensive range of procurement advice to managers and staff across the Company and to ensure that the integrity and legal implications of procurement policies and activities, are fully identified and addressed.
  • Engage with the supplier market in developing new products and services via various working groups and programme / project boards for forces.
  • Represent the Company and engage with other parties from the public and private sectors including the Home Office, Crown Commercial Service, Blue Light Commercial Organisation and the major police suppliers, to create procurement/commercial opportunities that will benefit forces.
  • Promote the provision of a high quality, professional, and customer focused service to all forces.
  • Participate in the contract management and the periodic reviews of existing contracts as required. Identify and implement any best-practice methodologies that can be shared throughout the Company.

What you need to succeed in the role

  • Strong analytical skills to align procurement solutions with customer needs.
  • Ability to identify strategic opportunities in the external market and how they may benefit forces.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the gravitas and ability to liaise successfully with staff/officers of all levels and external individuals, and to influence stakeholders within forces and external organisations.
  • Strong commercial acumen.
  • Good organisational, time management and project management skills in to ensure delivery of results to agreed deadlines.
  • Ability to travel to Police forces and suppliers as required throughout the UK. This is to ensure development of stakeholder relationships and trust. 

Qualifications / Education / Training:

  • The post holder will hold MCIPS Level 6 in-line with the CIPS structure guidance or be able to clearly evidence equivalent levels of experience, technical knowledge and expertise by having worked as a leading Procurement professional within ICT Services for a complex, public sector organisation. (essential)

Experience:

  • At least 5 years’ experience in category management (essential)
  • Extensive knowledge and understanding of contract law and the application of EU Public Contract Regulations 2015 and legislation is essential, as well as preparing specifications. This to include preparation / evaluation of tender criteria as well as those operating under framework arrangements and EU directives. (essential)
  • Experience of procurement and contract management across the ICT category and a broad, high-level technical understanding of ICT products and services and how technology is advancing. (essential)
  • Experience of managing staff, preferably across a number of locations. (essential)
  • The post holder will have strong negotiating, influencing, interpersonal and communication skills, as are essential to the role. (essential)
  • Proven success in working in a political environment with senior stakeholders (Chief Executive level) showing sound judgment and impact. (essential)
  • Provide innovative thinking and impetus to drive through change and develop and enhance an integrated commercial and contract management function. (essential)
  • Significant experience of translating business needs into commercial procurement strategies that drive enhanced business outcomes for organisations. (essential)
  • Procurement experience with a blue light organisation (desirable)

Working Arrangements

Currently the entire Company is working remotely. We expect that, once government advice changes, a hybrid working arrangement will be implemented for this role, enabling the job holder to split their time between the office and their home.

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