Assistant Category Manager

Directorate : Resources

Section : Procurement & Commercial;

• Location : Civic Centre
• Grade : Level 9
• Hours : 37 hours per week

This advert is open to internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

We are inviting internal applications for an Assistant Category Manager opportunity within Procurement & Commercial Services. The role will support the delivery of effective category management, sourcing and procurement activity across the Council, working closely with Category Managers and service areas to help deliver value for money, commercial improvement and positive outcomes.

This is an excellent development opportunity for colleagues looking to broaden their procurement experience, take on greater responsibility and build their commercial and category management capability. Applications are welcomed from colleagues with relevant procurement, commercial or transferable experience who are keen to develop within the profession.

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager John Bellamy, John.Bellamy@stoke.gov.uk

Key Responsibilities:

• Support sourcing and procurement activity
• Assist with quotations and tender exercises
• Undertake spend and market analysis
• Support contract and supplier management
• Maintain accurate procurement records and systems
• Work with services to identify commercial improvements

About You:

• Have excellent organisational and communication skills
• Able to analyse detailed information and work accurately
• Confident working with a broad spectrum of colleagues and suppliers
• Able to manage competing priorities
• Commercially aware with a willingness to learn
• Procurement experience or relevant transferable skills

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme

Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.