Procurement Category Specialist - Children's Services

Role Title: Procurement Category Specialist - Children's Services

Day Rate

£500 to £550 per day (Outside IR35)

Location: West Midlands

Contract: Initial 3-month contract, rolling (likely duration of 12+ months)

Working Arrangements: Fully remote assignment

Responsibilities

• Working with Children's Services commissioners to understand service requirements, upcoming procurement activity and key priorities.
• Developing and implementing a clear category strategy and prioritised procurement pipeline.
• Translating commissioning needs into effective procurement plans and commercially sound sourcing strategies.
• Leading and supporting complex, high-value procurement exercises from initial planning through to contract award and implementation.
• Using market intelligence to identify opportunities, assess commercial risks and inform procurement decisions.
• Providing constructive commercial advice and challenge to commissioners, helping shape proposals and ensure they are deliverable and sustainable.
• Balancing compliance, cost effectiveness, provider capacity and service quality when developing procurement solutions.
• Building effective relationships across procurement, commissioning, finance and operational teams to support successful delivery.

Ideal Candidate

• Significant procurement experience, with specialist knowledge of the Children's Services category, ideally within local government.
• A strong understanding of public sector commissioning and experience working closely with commissioners and senior stakeholders.
• A proven track record of developing category management strategies, procurement plans and sourcing pipelines.
• Knowledge of Children's Services provider markets, potentially including children's social care, SEND, specialist placements, social worker supply, early intervention and third-sector services.
• Experience managing and delivering complex or high-value service procurement projects.
• The ability to influence and constructively challenge stakeholders, using commercial insight and market knowledge to support decision-making.
• An understanding of the links between Children's Services, Adults and Public Health commissioning and procurement.
• A proactive, pragmatic and delivery-focused approach, with the confidence to work autonomously within a changing environment.