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Job description

The Senior Category Manager will assist the Head of Supplies and Services to ensure the successful implementation of a compliant, consistent and professional Procurement Service within EA. The Senior Category Manager will be responsible for providing specialist informed, professional, expert procurement advice and guidance; developing and leading a procurement category to ensure VFM and best practice procurement and contribute to the enhancement of procurement standards across the Category Management structure to ensure continuing CoPE accreditation and maintain full compliance with Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy (NIPPP), Procurement Policy Notes and Department of Finance Sourcing Toolkit. They will be responsible for managing and leading staff. A full list of responsibilities, essential and desirable skills can be found on the Education Authority website.

Responsibilities

• Working with the Head of Supplies and Service to establish, maintain and communicate a clear and compelling strategic direction for the service and category responsibility.
• Contribute to the development of a strategic plan for the Service and the development of the service-specific business plan.
• Manage specialist areas delivery effectively to ensure that the service achieves the highest possible standards of performance and focuses on the needs of internal and external customers.
• Agree service performance targets with the Head of Supplies and Services and provide regular progress reports.
• Work closely with the Head of Supplies and Service to provide the service with leadership and direction ensuring that corporate, directorate and service performance standards are achieved.
• Promote the ethos and values of the authority and ensure that the service is focused on customer needs.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Hold a full membership of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.
• Have five years experience working in a procurement and/or purchasing and supply environment two of which must be in a senior role in a large public or private organisation.
• Knowledge and experience of applying Procurement Legislation including Public Contract Regulations (2015) and Procurement Act 2023.
• Knowledge and experience of embedding Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy (NIPPP) and Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) within public sector contracts.
• Knowledge of procurement case law and application to procurement function.
• Knowledge and experience of applying Category Management and its benefits.
• Knowledge of embedding efficient procure to pay processes into contracts.

Desirable Skills

• Demonstrable experience in the use of e-TendersNI.

Further Information

Location: Base location to be determined on appointment, Belfast, Armagh, Ballymena, Omagh. The Education Authority is an equal opportunities employer.