Job Description

Category Manager

Salary: £59,663.04 per annum (Band 12)

Location: Remote, Home Based, with travel

Contract: Full Time, 39 hours per week, Permanent

At Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL), we play an important role within the wider Ministry of Justice family. Our work supports the safe and secure operation of the prison estate and contributes directly to rehabilitation and essential public service delivery. Guided by our values of Pride in People, Do the Right Thing, and One Team, we provide critical services to a complex and high-profile environment.

We're looking for an experienced Category Manager to join our Commercial & Supply Chain team. Reporting to the Head of Procurement & Supply Chain, you will be accountable for the delivery of category services, ensuring GFSL has a robust and resilient supplier base that enables our operations teams to deliver for our client. You'll lead on category strategy, value engineering, cost savings and supplier relationship management, working closely with business stakeholders and suppliers to drive performance, compliance and value for money. This role suits a commercially aware procurement professional who enjoys influencing stakeholders, leading negotiations and delivering measurable savings.

What you will do:

• Deliver against a Supply Chain work plan focused on service improvements, risk reduction, cost avoidance and maximising savings.
• Prioritise and develop category sourcing strategies with business stakeholders, building market expertise and improving supplier performance.
• Lead tendering and contracting activities, coordinating cross-functional sourcing teams and developing T&Cs in compliance with public procurement regulations.
• Analyse and evaluate tender returns using appropriate methods, including total cost of ownership and supplier and industry economics.
• Evaluate opportunities, lead negotiations and establish a core group of preferred supplier partners.
• Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) meetings, using KPIs to evidence supplier contract performance.
• Act as a trusted reference point for Supply Chain issues, both internally and with external stakeholders and suppliers.
• Influence and educate stakeholders to embrace innovative supply chain solutions that support the safe and effective running of the prison estate.
• Monitor purchasing trends to reduce cost and enhance value for money.
• Produce contract documentation and develop reports on tender and category work, presenting findings to business stakeholders.
• Mobilise change associated with new suppliers and the standardisation of products and services.
• Travel to sites and supplier premises as required to support teams, carry out supplier audits and SRM.
• Deputise for the Supply Chain Manager and other Category Managers where permitted, and help train administrators in Supply Chain skills.
• Champion environmentally sustainable purchasing.

What we are looking for:

Essential Skills and Experience

• Experience of category management.
• A proven track record of procurement savings delivery in either the private or public sector.
• Evidence of strong commercial awareness.
• MCIPS qualification, or degree equivalent, or working towards MCIPS.

Desirable

• Management or supervisory experience.

Benefits include:

• Free private GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Death in Service benefit (4× salary)
• Financial reward schemes and retailer discounts
• A strong safety culture and commitment to diversity and inclusion

Pride In People.

We're passionate about promoting greater diversity and creating a workplace and culture where all employees have a voice that is heard, feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to be their true selves.

We recognise the value that every single employee brings to the organisation. Everyone's needs at work are different and we are committed to doing our best to satisfy these differences whilst ensuring consistency and fairness for all. We promise to champion diversity and inclusion with ongoing learning and training, as well as career progression opportunities for everyone.

Future plans.

GFSL has been notified by its shareholder (MoJ) that the provision of FM services will in future be delivered by the private sector. This means that following a successful procurement process, GFSL's services will complete transfer to a private sector provider/providers no sooner than August 2027.

Pride in People – Do the Right Thing – One Team

GFSL – An ISO 9001 Certified Company