Category Manager - Finance OfficeGrade 7
Category Manager - Finance OfficeGrade 7
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£ 36130 - 45413
1 Vacancy
Job Description
Position Details
Finance Office
Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range 36130 to 45413 with potential progression once in post to 48149
Grade: 7
Full Time Permanent
Closing date: 6th August 2025
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond support them to succeed and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here todevelopthrough our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full almost 5000professionalservices jobs in a wide-range of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we areand how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and depending on the role we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible addition you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya year one paid day a year for volunteering occupational sick pay and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus including main bus routes and a train station on campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool shopsplaces to eat and drinkour own art gallery museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham
Background
The Procurement and Insurance Division of the Finance Office has overall responsibility for the effective procurement of Goods and Services within the University. It has a key role to ensure the achievement of best value for money in the utilisation of the Universitys circa 370 million annual non-pay budget ensuring statutory obligations relating to tendering and contracting are fulfilled. Procurement also ensures commercial risks and the Universitys supplier base are evaluated and adequately managed.
Role Summary
This role will deliver procurement contracting and advice to Colleges and Professional Services ensuring that best value is achieved and commercial risk effectively managed. Taking the lead role in establishing Frameworks and other Agreements as appropriate for designated Categories establishing approved suppliers where appropriate. Negotiating contracts for the purchase of materials scientific and capital equipment and services exceeding 25k in value.
The post holder will be responsible for reviewing negotiating and agreeing to terms and conditions for complex and high-value supply and installation contracts including those involving laboratory and capital equipment. This includes ensuring compliance with technical specifications delivery schedules installation requirements warranties and service-level agreements.
This role will maintain effective communication and networking links with Colleges and Budget Centres ensuring compliance with public sector procurement legislation and due process. Working with Teams and Budget Centres or Commodity Groups to ensure that the performance of approved and Framework Agreement suppliers meet and maintain the standards set out in Service Standards. Undertake regular supplier reviews involving stakeholders as appropriate.
The post holder would be expected to challenge existing procurement methods deployed with a view to driving further savings and improvements. Also all posts holder categories are flexible and can be changed to meet the needs of the function and resource requirements.
Main Duties
- Contribute to the development and implementation of university procurement strategies and policies and to the development of National and Regional Consortia strategies. Liaise with the HE Sector Purchasing Consortia and Special Interest and Commodity Groups related to Procurement for which the Category Manager has the Lead Role ensuring the Universitys position and views are properly represented. Attend and lead meetings or contribute to electronic consultations and activities and provide demand and performance information and data as necessary.
- Liaise with end users to develop commodity strategies and/or process single contracts to fulfil the requirements in the most cost-effective manner achieving best value in all procurement activities and ensuring that the value-added benefits of economies of scale can be exploited by means of co-ordinating the Universitys demand and expenditure to the fullest extent.
- To lead and manage the; procurement tendering and contract awarding for the University comprising of supplies installation and services to ensure value for money is delivered and commercial risk effectively managed in the procurement and delivery of contracts above the lead role and establish and maintain expertise in a specific range of service environments and identify the requirements and needs of the end users.
- To act as deputy for the Head of Procurement Contracting (or other Category Managers or Senior Category Managers) as and when required to cover meetings advice or procurement work in partnership with key stakeholders and project teams to provide expert advice in the determination of procurement strategies to fulfil end user requirements within budget and on time.
- The post-holder will provide support and expertise in developing and negotiating appropriate contracts for this category and the resolution of any claims or disputes that may arise with Contractors and responsible for ensuring standard forms of documentation are up to date and in liaison with Legal Services ensure any amendments made to standard forms are regularly reviewed.
- To liaise with and utilise other Category Managers and support staff to support the Buying Team with diverting requisitions / purchase orders to contracted suppliers and any related issues linked to contracting release any Price Holds within tolerance levels or investigate at discretion. To develop contracts to support smooth running of the Buying Team order flipping process and reduce queries and administration.
- Seek to limit the number of new suppliers created in Core Systems by way of requests rejected improved stakeholder information and greater use of existing suppliers to monitor where weaknesses may exist across the University and support corrective actions. To oversee the monthly Cull process in accordance with the Run Book.
- To continue the deep-dive savings initiative to reflect; in-year cashable realised savings previous year deep-dive savings still in realisation and VFM standard savings delivered and reported.
- Maintain awareness of market trends supplier innovations and emerging technologies in laboratory and capital equipment procurement. Engage with suppliers and industry bodies to ensure the University benefits from the latest developments and opportunities.
- Develop and implement a culture (including policies and procedures) that promotes Equality and values diversity and inclusion.
- Supports the Universitys sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade.
Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience
- Educated to Degree level (or equivalent level qualifications) higher degree where appropriate orsubstantial relevant Category Manager/Procurement experience.
- Membership of CIPS / qualified to competent level.
- Ability to exercise a substantial degree of independent professional responsibility and discretion.
- Ability to lead and manage diverse groups of staff through intermediate managers.
- Evidence of literacy and numeracy.
- Knowledge application and administration of UK Public Procurement procedures and regulations.
- Legislation applicable to the procurement of a wide range of projects including construction projects estate development estate maintenance and professional services related products and services including telecoms recruitment stationery travel etc.
- Commercial terms and conditions of contract.
- Contractor Consultant and Supplier appraisal and management techniques.
- Contractor and Supplier Relationship Management.
- Contract management techniques.
- Administration of Request for Proposal/Tendering/Evaluation and Contract Award procedures including detailed contract negotiation.
- Contract contractor and supplier relationship management including the development and application of Service Level Agreements either as part of formal contracts or as informal arrangements.
- Working with the procurement of a wide portfolio of projects.
- Project Management ideally in a PRINCE environment.
- Networking and influencing people.
- Working in a Team environment involving internal University members of staff and representatives of external organisations as part of a Project Team.
- IT skills including MS Word Excel and Project and computerised procurement and management information systems.
- Actively promotes equality and diversity to internal and external stakeholders.
- Able to use data to identify equality and diversity issues.
- Experience of developing interventions to address equality and diversity issues.
Core competencies/transferable skills
Working at this level you will be able to develop and demonstrate the following core competencies/transferable skills and will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting their department and wider University.
Planning and organising
At this level role holders will have the ability to:
- lead and manage a functional area taking responsibility for staff and resources tackling planning and operations over the medium to long term.
- shape strategic direction for own area and make significant contributions to departmental strategic planning.
- set quality and professional standards for others.
- take accountability for the quality and delivery of a service or for the provision of expert professional advice.
- take the initiative and manage large-scale changes.
- make decisions and judgements on conflicting data/information.
- leadand manage projects which are complex and significant in terms of time and financial resources.
Problem solving and decision making
At this level role holders will have the ability to:
- evaluate service provision and implement innovative solutions to improve quality efficiency and continuity.
- ensure effective resolution of all issues in own area often requiring complex problem solving through others.
- identify trends which could have an impact on the area and identify and implement approaches to these trends.
- deal effectively and sensitively with significant and substantial people management issues such as major change programmes and lead staff through change whilst maintaining motivation.
Relationships and communication
At this level role holders will have the ability to:
- interact at senior levels within the University.
- network with fellow professionals in the wider community to stay up to date.
- promote own/departments work at internal and external opportunities.
- inspire and motivate others (often large teams) through multiple intermediary managers.
- provide expert input for internal/external meetings influencing and facilitating different opinions to reach consensus.
- consult with service users/others to establish service requirements standards and priorities for change.
Informal enquiries to Nicola Handley email:
View our staff values and behaviourshere
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.
Required Experience:
Manager
Employment Type
Full-Time
