Category Manager - IT
Your new company We're looking for an experienced and commercially driven procurement professional to take ownership of a high-impact IT category within a forward-thinking organisation delivering essential services.This is an opportunity to shape sourcing strategy, influence senior stakeholders, and drive measurable value across a complex supplier landscape. You'll play a key role in ensuring that IT procurement delivers innovation, efficiency, and long-term commercial benefit.Your new role You will lead the full sourcing life cycle for IT spend, developing and delivering category strategies that balance value creation, cost optimisation, and risk management. Working closely with business leaders, you'll influence demand, drive smarter buying practices, and ensure best-in-class supplier performance.Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement IT category and demand strategies aligned to business objectives
- Lead commercial activities across the sourcing life cycle, delivering value and minimising total cost of ownership
- Manage end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including tenders, negotiations, and contract awards
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and suppliers, influencing decision-making
- Drive cost reduction initiatives through standardisation, aggregation, and reduction of tail spend
- Manage a portfolio of IT suppliers, ensuring performance, innovation, and continuous improvement
- Ensure procurement activity is compliant with relevant regulations and statutory requirements
- Embed health, safety, and wellbeing considerations into sourcing and supplier selection processes
- Contribute to continuous improvement of procurement practices, tools, and governance
What you'll need to succeed You're a confident and proactive procurement professional with a strong track record in IT category management or strategic sourcing.You'll bring:
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyse and present complex data clearly
- Excellent negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills
- Experience managing multiple work streams in a fast-paced environment
- Proven success delivering cost savings and value outcomes
- Knowledge of IT supply markets and/or regulated industry environments
- Experience working across multi-disciplinary teams and engaging senior stakeholders
- A resilient, self-starting mindset with a focus on continuous improvement
Desirable Experience
- Understanding of regulated procurement environments
- Professional procurement qualifications (e.g. CIPS/MCIPS)
- Project management experience or certification
What you'll get in return Competitive benefits package 2-3 days a week in the office Salary range of £53,000 - £66,000 dependent on experience, plus bonus.What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
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