Category Manager - Hard FM

Category Manager - Hard FM
Home-based with Travel       
Full Time, Permanent    
Band 3 / £60,000 - £80,000 (dependent on experience)  

Here at Serco, we're seeking a skilled and strategic Category Manager - Hard FM to lead procurement strategies across key areas, including repair and maintenance, asset lifecycle management, and construction. This is a diverse role that spans across all business units, with a strong emphasis on CapEx life cycle projects.

We're looking for a candidate with substantial project experience in Hard FM—this is critical for success in the role. Programme management experience is highly valued, particularly someone who can manage these projects strategically. Additionally, expertise in contract negotiation and post-contract management will be important as you manage suppliers through each stage of the process.

Stakeholder relationship management will be key in this role. You'll need to be diligent and able to work under pressure, handling challenges and tight deadlines with confidence. Strong leadership will be necessary, as you'll need to both manage teams and challenge back when required, ensuring projects stay on track and deliver results that align with the broader business objectives.

This is a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact in a complex, fast-paced, and purpose-driven organisation, where your strategic insights and project expertise will shape procurement outcomes across critical areas of our business.

As part of this you'll:

• Develop and execute category strategies that deliver cost efficiencies, reduce risk, and enhance supplier performance.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to align procurement initiatives with operational and strategic objectives.
• Delivery of complex procurement projects (>£1m).
• Monitor supplier performance and risk, ensuring delivery of continuous improvement and innovation across Hard FM services.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, contract negotiations, and supplier engagement activities across the UK and Europe.
• Drive collaboration across Serco's Procurement team, business units, and third-party Procurement Delivery Partners.
• Lead and support a small team within the category.
  
  

What you'll need to do the role:

• Proven expertise in Hard FM procurement, including strong knowledge of supply markets across repair & maintenance, lifecycle management, and construction.
• Strong commercial acumen, with a track record of delivering results in complex and regulated environments.
• Experience building and managing relationships with senior stakeholders and suppliers, ideally across multiple regions.
• A proactive and strategic mindset, with the ability to lead innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong contractual knowledge with experience of JCT/NEC contracts.
• Experience managing a small team.
• MCIPS or relevant post-graduate qualification (desirable).

Why Serco:

Meaningful and vital work: In this position, your work is vital to the business, in terms of decisions and growth. You will gain a world of opportunity working for a globally operating business delivering essential services across 5 vital sectors, personal growth, achievement and development won't be hard to find. You'll also work with great people. You'll find yourself working in a highly motivated, supportive environment where no two days are the same, with experienced colleagues who strive for excellence.

What we offer:

• Company car
• Private healthcare
• Bonus scheme - 5% on target, 10% exceeding targets
• Flexible working considered
• Pension - 6%
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Chance to contribute to innovation in the public services
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion

About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services.  We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks - SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. 

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.  For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.
 

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the 'Ban the Box' pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.