Interim Category Specialist

Interim Category Specialist – Sheffield – 12-Month Contract

Chase & Holland are working with a leading organisation in Sheffield who are looking to appoint an Interim Category Specialist on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

This is an opportunity for an experienced Contract Manager / Category Specialist / Procurement professional to take ownership of a defined portfolio of contracts, working closely with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure contracts are effectively implemented, managed and performing against agreed KPIs and SLAs.

This is not a transactional Buyer position. The successful candidate will need strong experience in contract management, supplier performance and stakeholder management, with the confidence to take ownership and hit the ground running.

The Role

Reporting into the Procurement Team Leader, you will be responsible for supporting the business across a range of goods and services, from contract implementation and negotiation through to ongoing supplier and stakeholder management.

• Managing a portfolio of contracts across designated categories.
• Reviewing expiring contracts and leading tender, RFQ, benchmarking, extension and negotiation activity.
• Working closely with internal stakeholders to establish requirements and agree appropriate contract solutions.
• Supporting contract drafting, amendments and negotiations alongside Legal.
• Ensuring contracts contain appropriate specifications, terms, KPIs and SLAs.
• Managing supplier performance and contractual obligations throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Establishing and leading regular supplier review meetings.
• Monitoring KPIs, SLAs, management information and supplier performance.
• Identifying and addressing areas of contractual non-compliance.
• Tracking savings, added value and price increases.
• Reviewing spend and usage across designated categories.
• Supporting the implementation of new goods and services contracts.
• Working with Procurement colleagues across regional and global teams.
• Supporting wider procurement initiatives and ensuring local requirements are represented.
• Maintaining accurate contractual documentation and ensuring appropriate governance and compliance.

The Person

We are looking for someone who can come in, take ownership and get things moving.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience in contract management / contract procurement.
• Experience managing suppliers and contractual relationships.
• Strong knowledge of KPIs, SLAs and supplier performance management.
• Experience with tenders, RFQs, benchmarking and negotiations.
• Experience working with contracts for goods and/or services.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work across different levels of an organisation.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• A methodical and commercially focused approach.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Confidence working independently and taking ownership of a workload.

This role would suit an experienced Contract Manager, Category Specialist, Procurement Specialist or commercially focused Buyer who has moved beyond transactional purchasing and has genuine experience managing contracts and suppliers.

What's on Offer?

• 12-month fixed-term contract.
• Hybrid working - 3 days office / 2 days remote.
• Standard hours of 8:30am–4:30pm, with some flexibility.
• Opportunity to work within an established Procurement function.
• A varied role covering contract implementation, supplier management and category activity.
• Support from an experienced Procurement Team Leader.
• Sheffield location with accessible hybrid working.

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