Interim Senior Category Manager - Hard FM (Fire & Security)

Description:

Interim Senior Category Manager - Hard FM (Fire & Security)

Homebased with occasional travel to Hook if local

Contract to December 2026

Day Rate £500 via Umbrella Company

Our commitment is to provide equal opportunity regardless of, for example, your gender, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or beliefs. We also engage with employers to develop programmes and pathways that embrace diverse talent and promote more inclusive employment worldwide through partnerships and other initiatives. We recognise and celebrate the value of difference and how it makes us faster, smarter and more innovative than our competition.

My client specialises in the delivery of essential public services, with over 50,000 people working in defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare, and other citizen services across our four regions: UK & Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Middle East.

The Opportunity

My client is seeking an experienced procurement professional to lead a strategic Fire & Security Category Programme across its UK estate. The position is being offered on a contract until December 2026 with the potential to extend slightly. You will be working Monday to Friday standard office hours. The position is fully remote however if you are local to Hook there is the option to go into the office once a fortnight.

This is a hands-on role requiring ownership of the full procurement lifecycle, from supplier and category analysis through to commercial negotiations, contract development, framework implementation and supplier governance.

You'll work independently to deliver commercially robust agreements, rate cards and governance frameworks, driving supplier standardisation, optimisation and value across a complex multi-site environment. This is not a role where the contract element can be handed off to another team, therefore experience managing procurement activity through to contractual completion is essential.

Key Responsibilities

Lead a UK-wide Fire & Security procurement programme.
Analyse existing supplier arrangements, contracts, spend and service delivery models.
Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, standardisation and cost optimisation.
Develop and implement category strategies across Fire & Security and wider Hard FM categories.
Lead sourcing activities, supplier negotiations and tender processes.
Negotiate and implement framework agreements, Statements of Work and commercial schedules.
Develop standardised rate cards, pricing mechanisms and governance frameworks.
Establish KPI and SLA structures to support supplier performance management.
Build strong relationships with operational stakeholders and drive adoption of standardised agreements and processes.
Support additional Hard FM and Engineering procurement projects as required.

Key Deliverables

Fire & Security supplier landscape analysis and spend mapping.
Standardised scopes of work and contract templates.
Implemented framework agreements with key suppliers.
Commercial rate cards and pricing structures.
KPI, SLA and supplier governance frameworks.
Supplier rationalisation and commercial improvement recommendations.
Delivery of measurable commercial value and cost optimisation opportunities.

Essential Experience

Significant procurement experience within Hard FM, Facilities Management, Engineering or related categories.
Proven track record delivering end-to-end procurement projects through to contract implementation.
Strong experience negotiating and implementing framework agreements.
Excellent understanding of commercial contracts, Statements of Work and supplier governance.
Experience developing rate cards, pricing models and commercial frameworks.
Ability to operate independently and manage both procurement and contractual elements of a project.
Strong supplier negotiation, stakeholder management and influencing skills.
Experience working within complex, multi-site environments.

Candidates will ideally show evidence of the above in their CV to be considered.

Please be advised if you haven't heard from us within 48 hours then unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion, we may however keep your details on file for any suitable future vacancies and contact you