Category Buyer

Senior Category Buyer

Location: Flexible within the South West (Middlemoor or Winfrith jubs - hybrid / flexible working available)
Contract: 6 months fixed term with potential extension
Pay Rate: £22.23ph PAYE / £29.24ph Umbrella (paid weekly via an umbrella company)
Start Date: 27th November

About the Role:

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Category Buyer to join the South West Police Procurement Department (SWPPD) — a collaborative regional team supporting five police forces across the South West: Devon & Cornwall, Avon & Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

You’ll lead complex and high-value procurements across key spend categories, delivering best value and ensuring compliance with public sector procurement regulations. This is an excellent opportunity for a procurement professional who enjoys stakeholder engagement, strategic sourcing, and driving improvement across a diverse regional partnership.

You’ll manage a small team of Category Buyers and play a key role in developing category strategies, supplier relationships and regional procurement capability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage complex, high-value procurements across multiple police forces.
  
  
• Develop and implement category strategies that deliver demonstrable value for money.
  
  
• Engage senior stakeholders to understand business needs and shape effective sourcing approaches.
  
  
• Manage and mentor Category Buyers, supporting their development and performance.
  
  
• Ensure compliance with public sector procurement law, standing orders, and financial regulations.
  
  
• Analyse market trends, supplier data and spend patterns to identify opportunities for savings and innovation.
  
  
• Build strong supplier relationships and implement tools to measure and improve performance.
  
  
• Use e-procurement tools and ensure all tender documentation and advertisements meet legal and quality standards.

Essential skills and experience:

• MCIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) qualification, MBA, or equivalent professional experience.
  
  
• Proven success in leading public sector procurements and category management.
  
  
• Strong understanding of UK Public Procurement Law and frameworks.
  
  
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
  
  
• Confidence working with multiple stakeholders across different organisations.
  
  
• Strong financial and commercial awareness.
  
  
• Analytical and data-driven approach to decision making.
  
  
• Ability to manage a demanding workload and deliver to tight deadlines.
  
  
• IT literacy, including experience with e-procurement tools.
  
  
• Experience in ICT category procurement.
  
  
• Project management experience or qualification (e.g. Prince2).

Why Join Offerings:

• Flexible working options, including hybrid and part-time arrangements.
  
  
• The opportunity to work across a large, collaborative regional procurement function.
  
  
• Professional development and ongoing procurement training.
  
  
• A role that makes a real difference to policing across the South West.
  
  

Apply Now Service Care Solutions is proud to assist in this recruitment campaign. If you meet the above criteria and would like to be considered, please apply now or reach out directly to discuss the role in more detail.
 
Harry Greenhalgh
Recruitment Lead – Police | Youth Justice | Domestic Abuse
Service Care Solutions
harry.greenhalgh@servicecare.org.uk
01772 208962