Senior Procurement Category Manager - Operational Services

  • St. Jamess Place
  • Jul 29, 2025
Full time

Job Description

Senior Procurement Category Manager - Operational Services

Cirencester, United Kingdom

req3317

Posted on: 03/07/2025 - Application Deadline: 08/08/2025

Are you ready tochart your own career path? At SJP we need talented individuals like yourselfto support our evolving culture. If you're seeking an employer that ispassionate about excellence, innovation and autonomy, SJP could be the placefor you.

At a glance:

Location: Cirencester Office

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Employment Type: Permanent

Seniority: Mid-Senior Level

The role:

This person will be responsible for leading and managing the procurement strategy for Operational Services within SJP. They will drive optimisation, reduce cost and maximise value through leading the sourcing and negotiations for Operational Services across SJP. They will work closely with internal stakeholders, supplier and senior management to drive efficiencies and align Operational Services' strategy with SJP's objectives.

What you'll be doing:
  • Operational Services Development Lead the development, implementation, and execution of SJP's procurement strategy for Operational Services in line with SJP's objectives and risk appetite. In partnership with business stakeholders develop and maintain Operational Services' plans with defined supplier segmentation.
  • Cost Optimisation & Savings Use market knowledge and experience to identify and deliver opportunities for cost savings and increased ROI. Develop and implement cost-control strategies across Operational Services. Use of benchmarking to regularly test price competitiveness.
  • Team Development and Mentoring Support the development of Procurement team members, building a strong talent pool for succession planning.
  • Stakeholder Engagement Collaborate across SJP directorates to identify procurement needs and provide strategic sourcing solutions.
  • Sourcing & Negotiation Lead sourcing processes, including RFPs (and use of e-sourcing tools), development and execution of negotiation strategies and selection of suppliers. Drive competitive pricing and contract terms. Develop and maintain an accurate Deal Calendar on upcoming renewal to maximise cost reduction opportunities and ensure appropriate resource prioritisation.
  • Risk Management Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and mitigate potential risks through proper supplier onboarding and contract management.
  • Reporting & Analytics Feed into KPI reporting to monitor the effectiveness of procurement activities. Regularly report on procurement savings, negotiations and strategy outcomes to the Head of Procurement. Contribute to development of procurement / commercial datasets and tooling.
Who we're looking for:

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in procurement and in depth experience/knowledge specific to Operational Services (Facilities, Marketing and Travel specifically). They will have a deep understanding of Operational Services, its utilisation at SJP, and market trends, emerging technologies and industry best practices. They will provide insights and recommendations to senior management and be proficient in RFP/RFI approaches, supplier evaluation, cost optimisation and negotiation techniques. They will drive the implementation of the supplier strategy for Operational Services at SJP whilst collaborating with other Procurement Managers. They will effectively manage one individual and partner with other procurement leads to develop cross-functional solutions to problems. They will demonstrate strong communication skills to build relationships and influence stakeholders across the business.

  • Extensive experience in procurement and in depth knowledge/experience specific to Operational Services (Facilities, marketing & travel).
  • Proven experience in negotiating and managing contracts.
  • Strong communication and negotiation skills.
  • Able to lead, develop and delegate to direct report.
  • Good understanding/knowledge of SJP business model.

What's in it for you?

We reward youfor the work you do, whether that's through our discretionary annual bonus scheme that reflects bothpersonal and company performance, competitive annual leave allowance (28 daysplus bank holidays, with the option to purchase an additional 5 days), oronline rewards platform with a variety of discounts.
We also havebenefits to support whatever stage of life you are in, including:

  • Competitive parental leave (26 weeks full pay)
  • Private medical insurance (optional taxable benefit)
  • 10% non-contributory pension (increasing with length of service)

Reasonable Adjustments
We're an equalopportunities employer and want to ensure our recruitment process is accessibleand inclusive for all, if you require reasonable adjustment(s) at any stageplease let us know by emailing us at
Research tells usthat applicants (especially those from underrepresented groups) can be put offfrom applying for a role if they do not meet all the criteria or have been onan extended career-break. If you think you would be a good match for this role andcan demonstrate some transferable experience please apply, regardless ofwhether you tick every box.

What's next?

If you're excitedabout this role and believe you have the skills and experience we're lookingfor, we'd love to hear from you! Please submit an application by clicking'apply' below and our team will be in touch.
As a businessregulated by the FCA we would advise you to familiarise yourself with theconduct regulations and in particular consumer duty obligations prior to aninterview with SJP.