Global Cat Manager - HR Systems & People Services

Global Category Manager – HR Professional Services & People Services
£75-90K. London/Leeds

Previous Industry Experience: Financial Services / Legal & Profsessional Services / Retail / Telco

Reporting To: Global Head Director of Procurement

We are looking for an experienced and commercially focused Global Category Manager to lead the strategic procurement and supplier management of HR, Professional Services and People Services categories, with annual spend responsibility in excess of £120 million.
The role will be responsible for developing and executing global category strategies across areas including contingent workforce, recruitment services, executive search, learning and development, talent management, employee benefits, occupational health, relocation, payroll services, HR technology, and broader people-related professional services.
Working closely with senior HR, Finance and business stakeholders across multiple regions, the successful candidate will drive value creation through cost optimisation, supplier innovation, risk management, service excellence and long-term strategic partnerships.
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement global category strategies aligned to organisational objectives and workforce priorities.
• Create and maintain multi-year category roadmaps covering sourcing, supplier consolidation, risk mitigation and value creation opportunities.
• Deliver sustainable cost savings, cost avoidance and process efficiencies across the HR and People Services portfolio.
• Monitor market trends, supplier capabilities and emerging technologies to identify innovation opportunities.

Strategic Sourcing & Contracting

• Lead complex global sourcing events, RFPs, negotiations and supplier selections.
• Develop commercial models and negotiation strategies that optimise value while maintaining service quality.
• Negotiate and manage high-value contracts with global and regional service providers.
• Ensure contractual arrangements appropriately address risk, compliance, data privacy and service performance requirements.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Establish and maintain executive-level relationships with key strategic suppliers.
• Drive supplier performance through robust governance, KPIs, scorecards and quarterly business reviews.
• Identify opportunities for supplier-led innovation and continuous improvement.
• Monitor supplier financial stability, service delivery and operational risk.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with senior HR leaders, COEs, Finance, Legal, Risk and business executives to understand future workforce and capability requirements.
• Act as the trusted procurement advisor for HR and People Services expenditure globally.
• Influence stakeholders across multiple regions to achieve category objectives and procurement best practice.
• Support major transformation programmes, organisational change initiatives and workforce strategies.

Risk, Governance & Compliance

• Ensure all procurement activity complies with internal governance, regulatory requirements and procurement policies.
• Manage supplier risk assessments, due diligence activities and ongoing compliance reviews.
• Support ESG, diversity and sustainability objectives across the supply base.
• Ensure compliance with data protection and confidentiality requirements relevant to HR services.

The role will be responsible for the following sub-categories:

• Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)
• Executive Search & Talent Acquisition
• Contingent Labour & Managed Service Providers
• Learning & Development
• Leadership Development & Coaching
• Payroll & Workforce Administration
• Employee Benefits
• Relocation Services
• Occupational Health & Employee Wellbeing
• Assessment & Talent Management Solutions
• HR Technology & SaaS Platforms
• Diversity & Inclusion Services

Experience & Qualifications
Essential

• Extensive procurement/category management experience within HR, Professional Services or Indirect Procurement environments.
• Demonstrated management of complex global spend portfolios exceeding £100m annually.
• Proven record of delivering significant cost savings and commercial value.
• Strong experience leading strategic sourcing and complex supplier negotiations.
• Experience engaging and influencing senior executives including CHRO, CFO and business leadership teams.
• Strong supplier relationship and contract management capabilities.
• Excellent analytical, financial and commercial acumen.

Desirable

• Experience within a multinational corporate environment.
• MCIPS qualification or equivalent procurement accreditation.
• Experience of HR transformation, workforce strategy or procurement transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of contingent workforce, talent acquisition and HR technology markets.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Executive Stakeholder Management
• Commercial Negotiation
• Financial Analysis
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Influencing & Change Management
• Risk Management
• Leadership & Collaboration
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Global Mindset

• Deliver annual savings and value creation targets.
• Improve supplier performance and service quality across the category portfolio.
• Drive strategic supplier innovation initiatives.
• Reduce procurement and supplier risk exposure.
• Increase stakeholder satisfaction and procurement engagement.
• Support organisational growth, workforce transformation and talent strategies through effective procurement leadership.

Salary: £75-90,000 base salary + bonus and benefits package (dependent on location and experience).