Category Manager - Digital

Digital Category Manager Location: Berkshire – Hybrid Hours: 36 hours per weekOur client, a major organisation undergoing digital transformation, is seeking a highly capable Digital Category Manager to lead strategic procurement efforts across the Cybersecurity, Networks, and Telecoms space. This role plays a vital part in the commercial success of key digital initiatives, including high-impact technology programmes.About the Role The successful candidate will act as a subject matter expert for the digital category, developing and executing long-term sourcing strategies that align with the organisation’s future-focused vision. The role requires the ability to provide commercial leadership across complex projects and supplier relationships, ensuring that value creation, compliance, and innovation are central to procurement activities.Key Responsibilities

• Creating and delivering end-to-end strategic category management.
• Providing extensive category knowledge and market insight, including identifying/managing category-level risk.
• Responsible for managing a portfolio of suppliers to ensure contracted expectations continue to be improved throughout the contract life cycle and to support these suppliers in delivering added value to Thames Water.
• Lead and evaluate competitive tenders and proposals for the supply of goods and services.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting on projects using available reporting tools.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Experience in end-to-end strategic digital category management.
• Ability to influence, engage and inspire internal and external stakeholders to drive meaningful change.
• Ability to challenge industry norms and proactively seek out opportunities to deliver sustained improvements in performance.
• Capable of leading complex supplier negotiations up to £100m in value.
• Some understanding and experience of operating in complex supply chain environments.
• Skilled in prioritisation and managing risk and complexity effectively.

Why Consider This Opportunity? This is a pivotal time to join our client as they embark on a significant digital transformation programme. The successful candidate will play a key role in helping to shape the commercial direction of critical digital infrastructure.Benefits Include:

• £55,000 - £60,000
• Annual bonus scheme
• 26 days of holiday (rising to 30 with service), plus bank holidays
• Private medical insurance (Family)
• Generous pension contribution (up to 12%)
• Annual health assessments
• Access to a comprehensive benefits platform supporting wellbeing and financial savings