Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
Capital & Infrastructure Category Manager
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As a Capital & Infrastructure Category Manager
You’ll play a key role in shaping and delivering procurement strategies across all ZSL sites, providing specialist commercial expertise across construction, estates, infrastructure, and capital projects.
Working collaboratively with colleagues across Capital Projects, Estates, Finance, and Legal, as well as external technical advisers and suppliers, you’ll develop effective procurement and contracting strategies, manage commercial risks, and ensure value for money. Through strong stakeholder relationships and strategic commercial decision-making, you’ll help drive successful project delivery and support ZSL’s wider organizational objectives.
This is a full-time position, working 37.5 hours per week, with a hybrid working arrangement. You’ll be expected to work on-site at least two days per week.
Please note that first-stage interviews will take place virtually on either 29th or 30th October. If successful, the second-stage interview will be held in person at ZSL London Zoo’s Regent’s Park site on 4th November.
Key responsibilities:
- Commercial Procurement & Market Engagement: Lead and support competitive procurement processes for construction works, professional services, and specialist suppliers, advising on procurement routes, evaluation models, risk allocation, and commercial terms.
- Project & Stakeholder Coordination: Work closely with project sponsors, technical advisers, Finance, and Legal to align procurement activities with project budgets, programme timelines, funding, approvals, and mobilization requirements.
- Commercial Risk & Supplier Management: Provide commercial advice on costs, value engineering, contingencies, variations, claims, and change control, while supporting contractor mobilization, performance reviews, and supplier assurance.
- Governance & Best Practice: Maintain robust procurement governance records, provide recommendations for approval, monitor market and supply-chain risks, and embed health and safety, sustainability, accessibility, and whole-life value into procurement strategies.
- Procurement & Contracting Strategies: Develop project-specific procurement and contracting strategies for enabling works, main works, estate development, and infrastructure programmes.
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About You:
- Experience in procurement or commercial management within construction, infrastructure, estates, or major projects.
- Experience in tendering, contract negotiation, award, mobilization, and commercial management.
- Strong understanding of procurement strategies, contracting, commercial risk, and project cost management.
- A relevant qualification, such as MCIPS or MRICS, or equivalent professional experience.
- Strong communication, analytical, and Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
- Strong commitment to health and safety, with the ability to promote safe working practices and comply with relevant policies and procedures.
This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
ZSL recognizes that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage.
About Us:
We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform, and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives, and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.
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What We Offer?
Alongside the opportunity to do purpose-driven work that helps create a world where wildlife thrives, you'll enjoy a range of benefits, including:
- Up to 12% contributory pension
- Flexible working options
- 25 days' annual leave plus UK bank holidays, increasing with service
- Enhanced family-friendly policies
- Life assurance from day one (for eligible employees)
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
- Access to our staff Equality Networks
- Complimentary London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo tickets, plus retail discounts
- Cycle2Work scheme and interest-free season ticket loans (for eligible London-based employees)
You can find the full details of our benefits in the attached Benefits Guide.
We may close this role early or extend the closing date due to the number of applications we receive, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
We anonymise applications until the interview stage to ensure a fair hiring process. It’s important to highlight your unique skills, experience, and knowledge. Over-reliance on AI-generated content may miss key criteria outlined in the job description and reduce the effectiveness of your application.
If you have any questions about this role, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with our recruitment team at recruitment@zsl.org.
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