Job Description

On behalf of the Bank of England, we are looking for a Category Manager Inside IR35 for a 6 months contract based Hybrid working (2 days pw in London or Leeds office and remaining WFH)



The Bank of England is the UK's central bank. Our mission is to deliver monetary and financial stability for the British people.



The Bank of England is a diverse organisation. Each of its 4,000 people are committed to public service and dedicated to promoting the good of the people of the United Kingdom by maintaining monetary and financial stability.



SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.



The main duties and responsibilities of the Category Manager would be to:

Develop and implement procurement strategies, including drafting business cases, tender documents, and managing routes to market. Lead end-to-end procurement processes, from stakeholder engagement and requirements gathering to contract award and transition to contract management. Manage tender activities, including clarifications, bidder communications, evaluation moderation, and commercial assessments. Draft and finalize contracts, ensuring alignment with risk, policy, and governance requirements. Support strategic category planning, using spend data, market insights, and supplier performance metrics to inform decisions. Promote compliance and capability building, by advising on governance, embedding risk controls, and supporting commercial training and sustainability goals.

Essential:

Extensive public sector procurement experience, with strong knowledge of PCR2015 and awareness of the Procurement Act 2023. Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships, demonstrating assertiveness, clear communication, and the ability to influence and challenge constructively. Strong project and time management skills, with a track record of handling multiple projects simultaneously and delivering high-quality outputs. Detail-oriented and analytical, with the ability to draft and review documents meticulously, translate data into insights, and present findings effectively.

Desirable:

Experience of e-procurement systems (for example Proactis, Oracle). Experience of Technology procurements and knowledge of industry standard forms of contract. Supplier and/or contract management expertise (post-contract award).

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.



Our Approach to Inclusion



The Bank values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.



At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. We believe that it's by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we'll continue to make the best decisions for the public.



Disability Confident



As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the Bank of England guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.



Armed Forces Covenant



The Bank of England guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.



In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".