Category Manager

Overview

Join Our Team as a Category Manager at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service! As a Category Manager, you will be responsible for managing all commercial aspects of allocated non-pay third party spend on behalf of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. The role is designed to deliver continuous benefits, savings, efficiencies, and improvements to goods and services through the development of category strategies and responsibility for procurement activities including appropriate end user, key stakeholder and supplier engagement.

Reporting to the Corporate Procurement Manager, the Category Manager will be required to manage strategic national or collaborative procurements as allocated on behalf of other UK Fire and Rescue Services.

• Act as a lead commercial advisor in all commercial and contractual matters relating to the engagement and ongoing management of third party spend within the designated Category.
• Ensure the approach for the designated Category significantly improves targeted value for money derived from all Service expenditure.
• Provide and continuously maintain subject‑matter expertise regarding commercial and technology market trends in the supply marketplace.
• Identify and manage supply chain risks and inflation mitigation plans to support corporate business continuity planning.
• Provide a lead role for delivery of national collaborative procurements on behalf of the Service.
• Provide income generation procurement services and advice for other Fire Service and public sector organisations, as allocated.
• Provide leadership to key stakeholders/category teams to ensure a structured, measurable performance methodology that reflects DSFRS corporate programme / project approaches.
• Quality‑assure activities and processes conducted by stakeholders (non‑procurement staff) in support of the category and procurement plans.
• Develop, review and update the category management plan to deliver a continuous value‑creation programme in light of changing market and business conditions.
• Act as the first point of contact in the event of conflicting issues and ensure appropriate stakeholder management is carried out and maintained.
• Assist in the identification, development and preparation of business cases and report and present to the appropriate internal and external groups.

Fire and Rescue Authority roles are listed in Schedule 1 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order and as such it is our policy to require all applicants to disclose any criminal convictions (both spent and unspent) including driving offences, cautions and reprimands.

This role will require a Standard DBS check to be completed. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority are committed to the rehabilitation of offenders; as such any positive disclosures will incorporate a reasonable and proportionate response.

Someone with experience or interest in procuring operational and technical equipment would be desirable but is not essential.

The successful candidate must, by the commencement of employment, have the right to work in the UK.