Role: Category Manager (IT, HR, & Marketing)
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000
Location: Aylesbury or Lincoln | Hybrid (2 days a week in office)
Overview
We are seeking an experienced
Category Manager to lead procurement activity across the
IT, Marketing, and HR categories.
This is a strategic procurement role focused on partnering with key stakeholders to understand business requirements, develop category strategies, deliver sourcing projects, and maximise value from third-party spend. Working within a fast-paced and evolving environment, you will play a key role in driving efficiencies, supporting transformation initiatives, and ensuring procurement delivers measurable commercial benefits.
The successful candidate will be a commercially minded procurement professional with strong category management expertise, excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to build lasting supplier and stakeholder relationships.
Responsibilities - Develop and implement category strategies across IT, Marketing, and HR spend areas.
- Partner with stakeholders to understand medium and long-term business requirements and translate these into effective procurement solutions.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing and tender activities, including RFIs, RFQs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and contract award.
- Identify opportunities to optimise spend, improve supplier performance, and deliver value for money.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships that encourage innovation, continuous improvement, and best practice.
- Drive return on investment across third-party expenditure through strategic sourcing and category management.
- Negotiate commercial terms, pricing structures, and contractual agreements to achieve favourable outcomes.
- Assess and manage procurement risks, ensuring appropriate contractual protections are in place.
- Work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure procurement projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned to business objectives.
- Monitor market trends, supplier developments, and emerging technologies to inform procurement decisions and category strategies.
Requirements
Essential - Proven experience in a Category Manager, Senior Buyer, Strategic Sourcing, or Procurement Manager role.
- Strong procurement experience across one or more of the following categories:
- Information Technology (IT)
- Marketing
- Human Resources (HR)
- Demonstrable experience managing tender processes from initial engagement through to contract award.
- Strong commercial negotiation and supplier management skills.
- Experience drafting, reviewing, and managing supplier contracts.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
- Strong analytical and numerical skills, with the ability to assess commercial proposals, risks, and value-for-money opportunities.
- Experience delivering multiple procurement projects simultaneously within a fast-paced environment.
- Strong organisational and project management capabilities.
Desirable - Degree educated or equivalent professional experience.
- CIPS qualification or working towards MCIPS accreditation.
- Existing supplier market knowledge and professional networks within relevant category areas.
- Experience supporting business transformation, technology, or change programmes.
Personal Attributes - Commercially focused with a strategic mindset.
- Proactive, solutions-oriented, and results-driven.
- Strong relationship builder with excellent communication skills.
- Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to manage changing priorities.
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
- Collaborative approach with a positive, can-do attitude.