Category Manager

Salary: £64,650 rising to £72,972 per annum + Excellent Benefits including Government Pension

Location: Hybrid working

Closing Date: Midday 12/10/26

Hours per week: This role is 37 hours per week. However, we welcome applications from individuals wishing to work on a part-time basis and we are willing to consider flexible working patterns subject to business need.

Add any allowances here.

About the role: The South West Police Procurement Service (SWPPS) has an exciting new opportunity for a Category Manager to join their regional team of experts delivering procurement services to the five Police Forces in the South West. It is a fantastic time to join the team as it continues to grow and deliver value for money through the procurement lifecycle, having a positive impact on the policing service we provide to our communities. The team is almost thirty strong and are responsible for over 500 contracts with a spend of circa £350m.

Procurement in policing is varied and includes works, goods, and services that support operational policing. As a Category Manager you will strategically lead on the SWPPS approach to managing and delivering successful regional procurement in identified key sub-categories whilst applying a sound knowledge of public procurement law with an understanding of broad political, economic, and legislative trends.

The role is expected to facilitate, mediate and in some cases lead on national collaborative agreements, requiring a political awareness and ability to understand formal and informal politics at regional and national level. You will also lead an experienced procurement team.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong commercial acumen with a graduate Level CIPS qualification (MCIPS), a Degree Level Qualification, or significant commercial experience at a senior level with department accountability. Desirable:

Prince 2, MSP, Management of Risk

This is a hybrid working role with flexibility to work from home and/or one of the five Police Headquarters in the South West region (Exeter, Portishead, Gloucester, Devizes, Winfrith). There is an expectation to attend occasional onsite meetings within the region.

It is a full-time position however part-time hours are also considered.

This is a great opportunity not only to join one of Policing’s largest procurement teams and gain from all the benefits that brings, but ultimately contribute to operational policing and make a positive difference to the communities we serve.

Assessment

The first assessment will be online via an external provider SHL. This will assess your numerical and verbal reasoning. The pass mark for the assessment is 30 percentile.

The second assessment will be by way of a face to face presentation, which the candidates will need to prepare before the interview date, a briefing will be provided once successful at the online assessment. This will then be followed by a structured interview.

Want to know more about this role?

Please click on the 'Apply' button to be taken to the vacancy on our website for further information about the role including the role profile. For a conversation regarding the role, once you have viewed the full details on our website, please contact:

Hiring Line Manager: Stuart Jose - Director of Regional Procurement

Email Address: stuart.jose@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk

PLEASE NOTE: Should you decide to apply for this role, when you are asked to state how you found out about this vacancy, please remember to select LinkedIn.

What you get if you join us:

If you work for us, you will get access to:

• A competitive salary with yearly increments.
• 25 days a year leave entitlement, with an increase to 30 days after 5 years continuous employment, plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time employees).
• Access to heavily subsidised gym membership that will provide you access to police site gyms throughout the counties.
• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme for discounts and services (requires a one-off payment of £5).
• Company sick pay.
• Competitive local government pension scheme.
• Job related equipment, as required.
• Free onsite parking at many police sites throughout the counties.
• Access to Group insurance scheme (via salary sacrifice scheme).
• Support networks, free Employees' Assistance Programme, Occupational Health and wellbeing services.
• Development and training opportunities.
• Supportive and flexible training plan, including regular check-ins throughout your initial period of joining us to ensure you are up to speed with the role and getting the support you need.

Flexitime, with the ability to undertake your hours flexibly and in line with business need.