Assistant Category Manager

An outstanding opportunity for a Procurement Professional to join an established team at one of the UK's most prestigious and globally renowned Universities. Working closely with the Senior Category Manager for Digital & Technology, the Assistant Category Manager will support the wide range of procurement activity across the University. Collaborating with senior stakeholders, driving value for money, advising on routes to market and supporting a culture of best practice principles for purchasing.

University of the Arts London (UAL) is ranked 2nd in the world for Art and Design according in the 2025 QS World University Rankings. It welcomes a diverse body of over 18,000 students from more than 130 countries. Established in 2004, UAL brings together 6 esteemed Arts, Design, Fashion and Media Colleges, which were founded in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Key duties include:

• Support the Senior Category Managers to deliver a sustainable procurement service for Digital & Technology, from sourcing strategy through to the development and drafting of specifications, competitive tendering, supplier evaluation and selection, contract management and monitoring.
• Support procurement strategies for Digital & Technology ensuring the best route to market, including the use of tenders, frameworks (GCloud, LUPC, GCA) and development of UAL frameworks for call off.
• Champion the use of the eMarketplace for high volume spend, engaging with suppliers and stakeholders to rationalise suppliers.
• Support a culture of procurement best practice, early engagement with Procurement, signposting and delivering value for money for sustainable purchasing.
• Develop a culture of robust supplier relationship management, providing training and guidance to stakeholders, ensuring adherence to contract obligations.
• Keep up to date with existing and proposed legislation and regulatory requirements to ensure your effectiveness as a procurement professional within the assigned category.
• Maintain the Contracts Register, Procurement tracker and procurement pipeline tracker so it can be utilised for workload planning, risk management and monitoring performance.
• Provide category management reporting, analysing markets and spend to support category procurement strategies.

Your profile and background:

• Previous experience working on procurement projects with in a Digital & Technology category area
• Track record managing multiple procurement projects in a complex environment.
• Knowledge of procurement practices, procurement law, EU/UK procurement directives (Public Contract Regulations 2015/Procurement Act 2023 desirable but not essential).
• Personable and self-motivated with the ability to influence and engage with Key Stakeholders and liaise confidently with a broad range of IT Suppliers.
• You'll ideally be CIPS qualified or working towards qualification.

Location:

• Offering a Hybrid work pattern and operating out of expansive offices within the historic Central Saint Martin's college (less than 10 minutes-walk from Kings Cross Station), this is a vibrant and modern team environment with an expectation that staff work a minimum of 2 days onsite.

Salary range: 40199 - 50925 </p

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