Interim Procurement & Category Management Lead

Day Rate: £600-£800 per day
Location: Hybrid (1-2 days per week onsite) in Oxford
Contract: 3 months with view to extend
Start Date: ASAP (flexible for the right candidate)

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Interim Procurement & Category Management Lead to support a high-profile organisation in driving procurement excellence across a broad portfolio of spend.

This is a hands-on leadership role for an accomplished procurement professional with strong category management expertise, a thorough understanding of procurement processes, and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. Alongside delivering strategic procurement activity, the successful candidate will help improve procurement practices, coach existing team members, and enhance tendering and governance processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end procurement and sourcing activities across a variety of spend categories.
• Develop and implement category management strategies that deliver value for money and commercial benefits.
• Review and improve procurement and tendering processes, ensuring compliance with organisational policies and best practice.
• Coach and mentor procurement colleagues to enhance capability and procurement maturity.
• Provide expert advice on sourcing strategies, market engagement, tender evaluations, negotiations, and contract award processes.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and facilitate effective working groups and governance meetings.
• Support procurement transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage supplier engagement activities and contribute to contract and supplier management best practice.
• Deliver procurement projects within challenging timelines while maintaining high-quality commercial outcomes.

Candidate Requirements

• Proven experience operating in a senior procurement, category management, or commercial leadership role.
• Strong background in Category Management and strategic sourcing.
• Extensive experience managing complex procurement and tender processes.
• Ability to influence, challenge, and engage stakeholders across multiple business functions.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, or developing procurement professionals.
• Strong commercial acumen with excellent negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Experience driving procurement process improvements and delivering best-practice procurement outcomes.
• Comfortable working autonomously within a fast-paced environment.