Senior Category Manager

Senior Category Manager - Education - £550 (Inside IR35) - London (Hybrid) Leading higher education client now requires a Category professional to lead procurement/commercial contract management. This role will work directly with faculties and departments to shape buying strategies, negotiate strong commercial deals and introduce better ways of working. Key responsibilities: Develop procurement plans that meet category needs and sustainability goals. Run large-scale tenders and negotiate value-for-money agreements. Advise stakeholders on compliance, including when to compete and when to sole source. Draft and manage supplier contracts linked to research funding, including grant awards, material transfer agreements and research service agreements. Manage e-catalogues. Build tiered supplier relationship management approaches. Drive non-pay savings and continuous process improvement. Line manage, develop and retain a high-performing team. Contribute to the Commercial Leadership Team and its strategic plan. About you: Significant senior-level procurement and commercial experience, with a degree or equivalent. experience and ongoing professional development. Expert negotiator with a track record of delivering complex, large-scale commercial solutions. Strong leadership skills, including change management and building high-performing teams. Confident communicator and influencer at all levels, able to work across large, decentralised ..... full job details .....