Senior Commercial Category Manager

Can you lead, support and develop a team?

Have you collaborated with other managers to create a high performing and well-respected team?

If so, wed love to hear from you!

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

Were working hard to:

• make roads safer
• improve services for our customers
• make road transport greener and healthier
• harness the potential of technology and data
• grow and level up the economy

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the Kings birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at DVSA

Senior Commercial Category Manager leading DVSA category management to deliver best‑practice commercial services aligned with Government Commercial Function standards. Responsible for end‑to‑end commercial lifecycle, driving cost savings, value and risk‑based sourcing across sub‑categories (~25m). Builds strong stakeholder and supplier relationships, leads team delivery of category strategies, and ensures effective procurement, contract management and continuous improvement within a regulated public sector environment.

Your responsibilities will include, but arent limited to:

• Execute management responsibilities effectively and in line with DVSA policies and processes
• Determine and plan the team requirements, including allocating resources and prioritising activities
• Work in collaboration with other managers across all functions for the good of DVSA
• Develop and deliver strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
• Support team training and continuous Improvement

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the role profilewhich is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Experience of the commercial cycle including pre-competitive supplier engagement, supplier selection, tender evaluation, contract award and ongoing contract management.
• Experience of public sector procurement, e.g. PCR 2015 Procurement Regulations and using Crown Commercial Service frameworks and the Digital Marketplace.
• Understanding of the Procurement Act 2023.
• Experience of operating in a category management environment, or a knowledge of the principles of a category management approach.
• Strong stakeholder-influencing skills.
• Ability to manage conflict and find effective resolution.
• Ability to make appropriate decisions and escalate when required.
• Ability to deliver outcomes successfully when under pressure

Additional Information

Qualifications:

Membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS), or equivalent, or preparedness to work towards achieving this qualification.

Technical Attributes:

Please refer to the Attributes for Government Commercial Professionals Section B: Expertise People standards for the commercial profession - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) - Associate Commercial Lead

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Occasional travel to other offices may be required, which may involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.