De Montfort University (DMU) is an ambitious, globally minded institution with a relentless focus on delivering quality teaching and learning, and a campus-wide focus on providing a sector-leading student experience.
A culturally rich university with a palpable commitment to the public good, it strives to maintain a stimulating and inclusive environment where staff and students can thrive.
Faculty / Directorate
The Finance and Procurement Directorate is a central support service within the university. Our Directorate vision is; "To provide an excellent and impactful customer service that exceeds expectations and proactively enables the sustainable delivery of a great student experience".
In addition to Procurement, the Directorate provides a wide range of services including Financial Planning and Reporting, Finance Business Partnering, Financial Accounting, Taxation, Income and Purchase to Pay.
We are an inclusive, collaborative and friendly directorate with a focus on teamwork, staff development and continuous improvement of the services we provide to students and the university.
Role
As a Category Manager at DMU, you will play a crucial role within our Procurement team, directly reporting to the Associate Director of Procurement. Your primary responsibility will be to deliver demonstrable value and sustainable savings for the university through the procurement of third-party goods and services. You will provide expert procurement advice, ensuring compliance with all legislative requirements, achieving best value, and effectively managing risk.
This is an exciting role to support the university in delivering its ambitious plans including support to the development and delivery of a new Estates Masterplan encompassing plans for a new Library and campus catering arrangements.
In this role, you will lead stakeholder relationship management, supplier and contract management, and the development and implementation of supplier strategies. You will conduct comprehensive category analyses and develop tailored category strategies to optimise procurement outcomes. Additionally,
you will manage tendering exercises from requirement development to contract award, ensuring processes adhere to procurement law and deliver value for money. Your proactive approach will drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, fostering collaboration and innovation across Faculties and Professional Services. This role also includes a market supplement of £3,000.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for the Category Manager position will possess a strong background in procurement and supply chain management, with a proven track record of achieving value and sustainable savings in a higher education or similar environment. You will have extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and relationship management, demonstrating the ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
You should have in-depth knowledge of procurement law and best practices, along with expertise in managing procurement categories and conducting thorough category analyses. Your commercial acumen will enable you to develop and implement effective supplier strategies, while your strong analytical skills will support informed decision-making and strategic sourcing. You will be CIPS qualified with substantial experience in the field of Estates/Works public procurement, having a good understanding of Estates related professional disciplines in addition to RIBA planning and delivery.
Leadership and team management skills are essential, as you will be responsible for guiding and developing procurement support staff. A commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in procurement processes is crucial, as is the ability to embed sustainability and the university’s net zero targets into procurement strategies. Additionally, you should demonstrate excellent problem-solving abilities, financial acumen, and a dedication to promoting social, economic, and environmental benefits through procurement activities.
