An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Highway Category Manager to come and join a busy client in the Manchester area.

As a Senior Highways Category Manager, you will lead and deliver innovative, intelligence-led category management across various spend areas. This role is crucial in supporting the clients shift towards a category management approach in procurement. You will build strong working relationships with senior colleagues, commissioners, contract managers, suppliers, and external partners to secure high-value goods, works, and services. Your work will ensure value for money, compliance with relevant policies and legislation, and the generation of efficiencies throughout the life of our contracts.

The main duties of the experienced Senior Highway Category Manager are:

• Develop and implement high-quality, innovative category strategies.
• Manage complex procurements impacting individuals, communities, and a wide range of stakeholders.
• Influence and shape market policies with exceptional expertise.
• Direct multiple high-value procurements with significant budget implications.
• Provide commercial and market intelligence to support strategic planning.
• Establish and maintain an up-to-date pipeline of procurement projects.
• Lead the design and delivery of procurement strategies that challenge existing delivery models.
• Conduct research into regional and national best practices, maintaining high knowledge levels of latest trends.
• Ensure all contracts are reviewed effectively, providing leadership in performance reviews.
• Analyze supply base and market intelligence to improve commercial deals.
• Design and lead market shaping and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Represent Oldham Council in dealings with external stakeholders.
• Ensure timely delivery of sourcing activities in accordance with regulations.
• Build collaborative relationships with other Greater Manchester Councils and public sector bodies.
• Develop supplier relationships and lead negotiations on commercial contract elements.
• Support local businesses to bid and engage with procurement opportunities.
• Drive changes and improvements to enhance service delivery.
• Embed social value opportunities within contracts.
• Provide training to raise commercial awareness across the council.
• Draft and advise on contractual terms in liaison with Legal Services.
• Maintain a commitment to continuous professional development.

The Senior Highway Category Manager will have experience in:

• Full membership of CIPS or a related professional body.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing category strategies.
• Experience in procurement analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Strong relationship-building skills with senior stakeholders.
• Experience in team management and setting strategic direction.
• Excellent knowledge of UK procurement legislation and public sector regulations.
• Ability to influence policy decisions and provide innovative business insights.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and develop a team.

For a full description and further information on the role, please call Harriet Simmonds at Carrington West on 02393 876051.

FOOTNOTE:

If you feel that you are right for this role technically, but the rate, location or seniority does not suit you specifically then please still feel free to send us your CV. We constantly recruit for roles very similar to this one at all levels UK Wide. We are always keen to chat with you discreetly about your employment situation.

Even if you are happy in your current role for now, we always welcome calls from Highways, Traffic & Transportation professionals keen to make their introductions for future months or years. Our specialist team has a combined 40+ years' experience in this market. Please call Harriet at Carrington West on 02393 876051 for more information.

By applying for this position you are agreeing for Carrington West to hold and process your personal data in accordance with our Data Protection Policy. Your data will be shared with third party clients specifically relevant to any roles you have applied for. If at any stage, you wish to withdraw your consent please email.