Procurement Category Specialist - Social Value

About the role

Reading Borough Council is looking for a forward‑thinking Procurement Category Specialist to lead our Social Value agenda and drive innovation through smart, modern category management.

In this role you will champion ethical, sustainable procurement, reshaping our Social Value direction and ensuring it delivers meaningful outcomes for Reading’s communities. You will work closely with our Social Inclusion, Tackling Inequalities and Climate Boards, creating practical tools, training and guidance that embed social value into every stage of our commercial activity.

• Play a critical role in developing templates, training, monitoring systems and clear guidance, working with Members and suppliers to keep our approach consistent, ambitious and impactful.
• Lead the implementation of Council policies such as Social Value and initiatives supporting work towards Net Zero, including Scope 3 emission tracking and sustainable supply chain initiatives.
• Validate contract management of social value, ensuring delivery of outcomes, performance and cost monitoring, and change/risk management.
• Advise senior officers and Elected Members on our corporate social value policy, delivery strategy and implementation.
• Embed category management approaches into individual contract sourcing strategies, optimising procurement outcomes and maximising supplier engagement.
• Ensure adherence to public procurement regulations, including the Procurement Act 2023 and associated legal frameworks.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to ensure successful delivery of procurement activities.
• Act as corporate lead on ensuring social value, ethical procurement and sustainability principles are embedded into procurement strategies.

• Experience leading complex procurement programmes, ideally in the public sector.
• Strong understanding of a range of contracts and commercial agreements.
• Ability to ensure adherence to governance structures and corporate compliance.
• Knowledge of category management, supplier negotiations and commercial risk mitigation.
• Ability to provide professional challenge and secure outcomes.
• Familiarity with corporate social responsibility, ethical and sustainable procurement and social value initiatives and opportunities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with experience in stakeholder engagement and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023, and ideally Public Contracts Regulations 2015; completion of the Procurement Act eLearning course is preferable.
• Holding a Level 5 CIPS qualification is preferable, although apprenticeship and training options will be available.

We support hybrid working, allowing flexibility while ensuring employees can excel in their roles, with an expectation of 1‑2 days per week in the office.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and seek talent from the widest pool of candidates. As a Disability Confident Employer, we actively support the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

You will be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.