"Category Manager"

University of Exeter - PS Connect - Strategic Procurement

Location: Streatham Campus, Hybrid

Salary: The starting salary will be from £50,253 on Grade G, depending on qualifications and experience.

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Permanent

Placed On: 6th October 2025

Closes: 3rd November 2025

Job Ref: R37118

This new full-time (1.0FTE) role is available from 19th January 2026 on a permanent basis within PS Connect.

This role offers the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home.

Summary of the role

Looking for a new opportunity? As a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and ranked 155 in the world according to the https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings, your procurement skills, sustainability and commercial knowledge could empower you to make a significant impact by managing the procurement of various works, goods and services across the Facilities Management category.

We are seeking an experienced, creative and solution-driven Category Manager to lead our Facilities Management category. The role will be responsible for helping to drive value from procurement of works, goods and services whilst realising the university’s responsible procurement ambitions.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience in category management and have a good level of experience in works procurement, preferably including public sector procurement experience. This is an exciting opportunity to influence and deliver procurement solutions for our bought works, goods and services in line with the University’s sustainable goals.

The successful candidate will be able to:

• Develop and manage the Facilities Management Category Plan.
• Line manage and develop a Senior Procurement Officer and Procurement Officer.
• Source solutions that support the University responsible procurement strategy whilst also realising value for money.
• Deliver Cashable and Non-cashable savings to support the University’s savings targets.
• Develop procurement strategies that are both innovative and compliant with the Procurement Act 2023.
• Collaboratively work with multiple stakeholder on multiple procurements at any one time.
• Communicate and present to senior stakeholders on category strategy and procurement projects.
• Use AI and other tools to enhance the procurement function.
• Undertake spend data analysis & research using a range of sources to support proposed strategies.

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from service people. The University of Exeter is an equal opportunity employer. We are officially recognised as a Disability Confident employer and an Athena Swan accredited institution.

Benefits

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• 41 days leave per year
• options for flexible working
• numerous discounts at leading retailers
• onsite gyms on all of our campus’ and a cycle to work scheme
• sector leading policies around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay) and a Fertility Treatment Policy
• stunning campus environments in Exeter and Cornwall, in the beautiful South West of England

Further information

Please contact Dave Burchill (d.burchill@exeter.ac.uk) Head of Strategic Procurement for any further information.