Category Manager IT

The role will manage procurement activities within a range of technology areas with spend across the organisation. This includes acquiring goods and services within budget and facilitating communication between the Business and suppliers to deliver products and services as planned. The IT Category Manager will also work on master agreements with our suppliers to ensure streamlined procurement activities globally. All activities will be in line with Group IT procurement guidelines and principles, ethics and sustainability objectives to deliver lowest total cost of ownership for solutions. 

You will report to the IT Manager – Procurement and will work alongside a team of IT Category Managers and Purchasing Specialists. 

Key duties and responsibilities include: 

Strategy and Planning 

• Monitor and analyse trends in company spending and inventory control to make recommendations for the future, and to identify areas for savings. 

• Develop, establish, implement, and enforce supplier and outsourcer guidelines, obligations, and service level agreements to the organisation. 

• Comply with all IT purchasing policies and procedures, including those for equipment, hardware, software, and service provision, in conjunction with department leads and department-specific requirements. 

• Analyse market trends and conditions for present and future pricing, availability, lead-time, and capacity of goods and services.  

• Interview, identify, and qualify potential new vendors or suppliers to secure more cost-effective sources of products and services. 

• Develop and deliver purchasing and inventory reports, bid proposals, requirements documentation, and tender documents. 

• Review and maintain the global supplier/contract base for the IT category, and update annual IT category plans to re-tender, consolidate, expand or change suppliers, as appropriate to leverage optimum service and value. 

Operational Management 

• Direct and manage sourcing strategies from beginning to end. 

• Define purchasing recommendations that support business goals, in collaboration with management and stakeholders.  

• Negotiate pricing, terms and conditions of sale, and warranties of goods and products with key suppliers and vendors. 

• Negotiate pricing, terms and conditions of contracts with contractors and/or service providers. 

• Monitor vendor, service provider, outsourcer, and/or contractor performance to ensure quality of service. 

• Provide periodic oversight and execution of vendor requalification. 

• Establish and maintain regular written and in-person communications with the organisation’s executives, department heads, and end users regarding pertinent sourcing activities. 

• Effectively communicate procurement strategies to team members and stakeholders in a timely and clear way. 

• Manage escalated issues between vendor and the company and coordinate key mitigation actions. 

• Where possible, standardise equipment to lower total costs. 

Essential: 

• Experience / Knowledge of category, supplier, and contract management. 

• Experience of procuring and negotiating contracts. 

• Experience running end-to-end RFPs for senior stakeholders. 

• Experience of implementing procurement policy, procedures, and governance. 

• Experience in achieving financial savings through supplier negotiation.  

Desirable: 

• Working knowledge of the Category Management process. 

• MCIPs qualified or willing to work towards a CIPS qualification.  

• Experience operating at both a tactical and strategic level with a track record of success in delivering financial savings.  

• Experience working in an environment where customer needs are variable.  

• Experience working under category management-based approaches.  

• Experience tendering and managing contracts over £1m. 

• Experience implementing best practice contract and supplier management. 

Personal Attributes: 

• Passionate about technology and learning. 

• Ability to balance demands and priorities and think clearly under pressure. 

• Attention to detail and a focus on quality. 

• Excellent conflict resolution, communication, and collaboration skills. 

• Logical and analytical approach to solving problems.