Category and Sourcing Manager

Lorien; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading banking institution is seeking a Category & Sourcing Manager to lead procurement initiatives. You'll develop category strategies and manage supplier relationships to drive innovation and cost savings. The ideal candidate has a strong background in strategic sourcing and category management, with excellent communication skills to influence stakeholders. Join now to shape the future of sourcing in the banking sector.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic sourcing, category management, and supplier engagement.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at senior levels.
• Experience in financial services or regulated environments is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing and category management across designated spend area.
• Build multi-year category strategies using market insight.
• Drive cost and business benefits to support targets.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Supplier engagement

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Contract lifecycle management

Financial services knowledge

Data analysis

Regulatory compliance

Job description

Category & Sourcing Manager - Permanent - Banking Sector

Are you a strategic procurement expert ready to lead sourcing and supplier management across high-impact spend areas?

We're working with Santander UK to find a commercially driven Category & Sourcing Manager to join their Procurement team. This permanent role is central to delivering sourcing excellence, supplier innovation, and cost transformation across the bank and its group entities.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Lead strategic sourcing and category management across a designated spend area
• Build multi-year category strategies using market insight and industry trends
• Drive cost and business benefits to support cost-to-income targets
• Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships to unlock innovation and commercial value
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, influencing business decisions and strategy
• Support financial planning, forecasting, and budget submissions
• Champion Santander's SRM model and contribute to procurement transformation

Key Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience in strategic sourcing, category management, and supplier engagement
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of contract lifecycle management
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels
• Ability to interpret business strategy and translate into actionable procurement plans
• Experience in financial services or regulated environments is highly desirable
• Deep understanding of supplier contracts, cost drivers, and procurement systems
• Skilled in process improvement, data analysis, and performance reporting
• Strong grasp of commercial models and regulatory compliance

If you're ready to lead strategic procurement initiatives and shape the future of sourcing at one of the UK's leading banks, apply now to join Santander's transformation journey.

Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group STEM Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.