Category Manager – Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service

Are you an experienced Procurement Professional? Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the largest non-metropolitan Fire and Rescue Service in England, is on the lookout for a Category Manager to join our Procurement team at our Service Headquarters in Exeter (flexible working arrangements available, with the possibility of some home working to be agreed with the hiring manager). This is a permanent, full time (37 hours per week) position that offers a competitive salary starting £42,839 rising to £46,142 per annum. If you also hold a MCIPS qualification a market supplement of 15% is payable, increasing the annual salary to £49,265 rising to £53,063. The market supplement is due to be reviewed further in August 2028. You will also receive a generous annual leave allowance of 33 days per annum plus public holidays and the ability to accrue flexi leave.

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 and efficiencies and improvements to good and services through the development of category strategies and responsibility for procurement activities including appropriate end user, key stakeholder and supplier engagement. Our Category Managers also regularly participate (lead/support) national or collaborative procurements across the Fire and wider Blue Light Sector.

Key responsibilities.
• To act as a lead commercial advisor in all commercial and contractual matters relating to the engagement and on-going 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.
• Identification and management of supply chain risks and 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 a leadership role to key stakeholders / category teams to ensure a structured, measurable performance methodology that reflects Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service corporate programme / project approaches.
• Quality assures 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