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

Sellick Partnership are working with a Local Authority for this exciting opportunity as a Procurement Category Specialist, specialising in Children's Services. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing the Council's procurement strategy, working closely with commissioners and senior stakeholders to shape the procurement pipeline, lead complex sourcing projects and improve commercial outcomes across the category, with additional collaboration across Adults and Public Health.

The responsibilities of the Procurement Category Specialist will be:

• 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.

The ideal candidate for the Procurement Category Specialist role will have:

• 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.

How to apply for the Procurement Category Specialist role:

If you believe that you are well suited to this excellent opportunity as a Procurement Category Specialist, please apply directly or contact Tim Farnsworth at Sellick Partnership Derby Office for more information.

CVs will be screened and sent over to the client for shortlisting, with successful applicants being contacted to arrange interviews as soon as possible.

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.