Procurement Category Officer

The opportunity

An unparalleled career opportunity for an ambitious Procurement Officer, and a chance to join one of the UK’s most prestigious and globally renowned Universities at a pivotal point in its journey.

 

University of the Arts London (UAL) is ranked 2nd in the world for Art and Design according in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.  It welcomes a diverse body of over 18,000 students from more than 130 countries.  Established in 2004, UAL brings together 6 esteemed Arts, Design, Fashion and Media Colleges, which were founded in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

 

 Operating out of expansive offices within the historic Central Saint Martin’s college (less than 10 minutes-walk from Kings Cross Station), this is a vibrant and modern team environment, with an expectation that colleagues come into the office 50% of their time. (Core days tend to be Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

 

For this Procurement Category Officer position, we are seeking applications from experienced Procurement/Commercial Officers, Category Managers and Procurement and Commercial Managers, ideally with some previous experience managing areas of spend across indirect categories and with a particular focus on services.

 

The successful applicant will work closely with the Procurement Lead and liaise with a range of Suppliers and Stakeholders to help the procurement function on its way to being best-in-class.  You will build and develop long-lasting relationships with a diverse Stakeholder Group and create and implement your own category strategies.

Your profile

Your profile and background - 

• You'll have experience managing the end-to-end procurement of Corporate services, such as IT, recruitment, digital media agency, legal services, coaching and training etc.
• You'll have a practical working knowledge of tendering and contracting procedures including but not limited to G-Cloud.
• You'll have a commitment to Continuing Professional Development and Procurement Best Practice.
• You’ll ideally be CIPS qualified or working towards qualification.
• You'll be someone who's both willing and able to assist more junior colleagues and colleagues outside the department by advising on procurement and areas such as contract specifications, sourcing options, tendering processes, and pricing strategies.

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) generates and inspires the creativity the world needs for a better future. Since 1842, our colleges have been defining creative education. With curiosity, imagination and intent we make work which creates lasting change for people and our planet. London is core to who we are, a place where we meet and share ideas with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Our creative network influences learning, culture, industry and society on a global scale. Our academics and practitioners deliver creative education and inspire new ways of thinking through research and innovation. We work with students at every level from pre-degree and short courses to postgraduate and online learning, enabling them to build the careers they want. Together, we are a community of makers, thinkers, pioneers and storytellers redesigning the future.

As a University we are ranked second in the world for Art and Design. We are formed of 6 Colleges with unique histories and identities: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts. UAL also has 4 Institutes, 5 Research Centres, 1 Pre-Degree School and 2 subsidiary companies delivering specialist activities.

Application process

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Thus, you will need to create an account and submit an application through our job board. As part of this, you will need to provide a supporting statement/answer some competency questions to demonstrate your suitability. Our recruitment process involves: Application, Shortlisting, Interview and Assessment, Offer, Onboarding.

We understand the benefits of using AI in work. But, if you are thinking of using it to submit an application, we ask you to think about what value it adds. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

If we receive a high volume of applications, the closing day date might close early. We aim to communicate any changes to the closing date with at least 24 hours’ notice. If you have any general questions or have accessibility needs, please refer to our Contact us page.

Start your application

Candidates are advised to submit applications early.