Job Title: Head of Procurement – Category Portfolio Lead
Salary: £72,181 – £89,656 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time, twice a week in office
Location: London
Overview Our client, a major public sector organisation undergoing a significant transformation programme, is seeking to appoint three exceptional individuals to the role of Head of Procurement – Category Portfolio Lead. These newly created senior leadership positions are pivotal to the evolution of the organisation’s Procurement & Commercial function, which is transitioning to a more strategic, data-driven, and digitally enabled operating model.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-impact team at a critical time, helping to shape and deliver a modern, resilient procurement function that directly supports frontline services and organisational priorities.
Available Portfolios We are recruiting for three distinct category leadership roles:
- Frontline Operations & Professional Services
- Assets & Estates
- Technology, Collaboration & Complex Transactions
Each role will report directly to the Director of Procurement & Commercial (Chief Procurement Officer equivalent) and will lead a team of category professionals to deliver strategic procurement outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, designing and delivering best-in-class commercial strategies.
- Develop and implement long-term category strategies that drive value, innovation, and operational efficiency.
- Lead complex, high-value procurement projects and negotiations, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
- Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships to ensure performance, compliance, and continuous improvement.
- Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing procurement teams, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
- Ensure compliance with relevant procurement legislation, including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023.
- Champion sustainability and ethical sourcing practices in collaboration with internal sustainability teams.
- Contribute to cross-functional leadership initiatives and deputise for the Director as required.
Candidate Profile We are looking for experienced procurement leaders who bring:
- A strong track record of delivering strategic procurement outcomes in complex environments.
- Deep expertise in category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management.
- Demonstrable experience of leading and developing high-performing teams.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including at executive level.
- A commitment to public service values and delivering positive impact through procurement.
- Knowledge of public sector procurement regulations and best practices.
