Job Description

Job title: Procurement Category Manager - Facilities Management and Construction (Grade 9)

Location:

Service Headquarters, Maidstone - mixture of office and home working - 3 days per week in office (with travel countywide, based on needs)

Hours:

Full time - 37 Hours per week

Base salary: 54,818 - 62,554 per annum depending on experience

Pension:

Automatic membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme - career average pension scheme with 17.5% employer contribution

Holidays:

In addition to entitlement to bank/ public holidays you will receive 31 days holiday

Ref:

R000878

Total Reward value:

64,411.15 - 73,500.95 per annum

Being a part of Kent Fire and Rescue Service

Everyone is unique. Everyone has value. Everyone helps to make Kent Fire and Rescue Service a great place to work. We are one team. Together with our customers we are creating a safer future for Kent and Medway.

Being a 'Procurement Category Manager'

We are currently recruiting a Category Manager to join our Procurement and Commercial Team. You will lead the FM & Construction category, and report directly to the Head of Commercial and Procurement and have 1 shared resource - Category Officer. You will have previous experience of JCT / NEC contracts and worked within the facilities management and/or construction industries.

The Team is formed of five Categories; Facilities Management and Construction (Property); ICT; Fleet; Professional Services; Operations.

You will lead in developing and promoting an innovative approach to procurement and market analysis. You will provide data and supplier analysis and support new methods of service delivery to achieve, not only best value in procurement, but continuous improvement through effective contract management.

You will also support and lead with the Head of Commercial and Procurement in designing and delivering local and national strategies to maximise collaboration opportunities across the Blue Light sector.

What you'll bring

Procurement experience within Facilities Management and/ or Construction Knowledge and experience of JCT / NEC contracts. Knowledge and application of procurement processes, English Contract Law, costing techniques, EU Directives and tendering/re-tendering procurements, including knowledge of category management processes and practices Used the government's Find a Tender Service (FTS). Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement or Supply, or qualified to at least CIPS level 4 and working towards (or committed to doing so) CIPS Advanced Diploma in Procurement and Supply Proven track record in a professional procurement function at a functional senior practitioner level (or capability to do so)

Additional benefits we're offering

Blue Light Card discount scheme A range of family friendly policies including promoting work-life balance Access to health and wellbeing services and advice Access to LinkedIn Learning online training Free parking Above all you'll become part of a service that is committed to the safety of our community

How to apply

Please complete an online application and CV by Friday 18th July 2025.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy upon receiving a sufficient number of applications. If you are interested in this role we recommend that you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We know that great minds don't think alike, so we rely on diverse thoughts, feelings, beliefs and backgrounds to create the best working environment that we can possibly offer.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service, its employees and volunteers, are committed to safeguarding, protecting and supporting children, young people and adults at risk. As part of our safer recruitment process, we will undertake pre-employment checks to verify your suitability for the role. These checks will include your references and a standard or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Enhanced DBS check with barred lists are carried out for roles with direct and unsupervised access to children, young people and adults at risk. Risk assessments will be undertaken on any disclosures identified as part of the pre-employment checks.

As a Public Sector organisation with added responsibilities under the Equality Act, 2010 the candidate must demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and how this fits in with their everyday work.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 54,818.00-62,554.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Employee discount Free parking Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking Sick pay Work from home
Schedule:

Monday to Friday No weekends
Ability to commute/relocate:

Maidstone ME15 6XB: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):

Do you have procurement experience within the FM and / or Construction industries?
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Maidstone ME15 6XB

Application deadline: 18/07/2025
Reference ID: R000878