Category Manager - Energy

Organisation: Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO)

Contract Type: Permanent (Hybrid Working)

Closing Date: 4th April 2025

Interview Date(s): TBA

If you're looking for an exciting and challenging opportunity, ESPO is seeking to appoint a highly motivated individual to work within our Energy Procurement team. This position is ideally suited to someone who wants to continue to advance their career in a busy and supportive team.

About the Role

As a Category Manager you will be leading a small team of procurement professionals to develop and manage a portfolio of Energy related framework solutions. You will ensure that procurements are undertaken compliantly in line with Procurement Act 2023. You will undertake supplier relationship management and build strong relationships with key stakeholders, internally and externally, ensuring the successful delivery of framework solutions.

About You

To apply for this post, you must have:

• A degree or equivalent qualification or demonstrable experience in this field.
• Procurement experience, ideally in the public sector.
• Some experience of the energy sector is welcomed.
• Experience of Supplier Relationship Management.
• Some experience of managing or mentoring procurement professionals ensuring effective staff utilisation to meet deadlines and achieve targets and goals.
• Experience in influencing and building relationships with key stakeholders to ensure appropriate input into procurement strategies and outcomes.
• CIPS membership or are working towards achieving membership.
• Excellent communications skills; the role involves significant interface and liaison with a range of stakeholders.
• Competence in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and the ability to manage time effectively to meet deadlines.

What we offer:

• Flexible working opportunities and access to employee benefits portal.
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing to 33 after 5 years' service), and a scheme to buy additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme with a generous employer contribution.
• Great office location next to Fosse Park, with free on-site parking and easy access to M1 and M69.

Interested in Flexible Working?

We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of ESPO. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

ESPO is an inclusive organisation which is on a journey to embed and celebrate equality, diversity, and inclusion at every level. We warmly welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, as having a diverse workforce with different perspectives and ideas is fundamental to our values and enriches the services we offer our customers.

To apply for this job, please click 'Apply Now'. You will need to upload a supporting statement as part of your application which explains how you meet the criteria listed in the 'About You' section above. For more information, see the How to Apply section on our career site.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.