Category Lead -PS and IT

Outsource UK Limited; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Outsource UK Limited is seeking a Category Lead to support a growing procurement team in Manchester. You will manage Professional Services and IT categories, focusing on renewals, supplier management and negotiations in a fast-moving, less mature environment.

The role is hybrid, combining office presence with remote work, and involves driving cost optimisation and process improvements across ~150 contracts.

Qualifications

• Experience in Category Management / Procurement.
• Experience in Professional Services and IT procurement.
• Financial services exposure is essential.
• Experience in regulated environments.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Comfortable with stakeholders and a growing function.
• Proactive, commercially aware and switched on.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement and contract renewals across Professional Services and IT.
• Manage contract renewals, tenders and commercial negotiations.
• Manage supplier and third-party relationships.
• Drive cost optimisation, supplier performance and risk management.
• Conduct market and spend analysis.
• Manage contracts through the full lifecycle.
• Support outsourcing and vendor management activity.
• Work with stakeholders and the procurement team to improve processes.

Skills

Category management

Procurement

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Growing function

Tools

Workday Strategic Sourcing

Job description

Category Lead - Professional Services & IT

Client: Fs Company
Location: Manchester - hybrid, typically 2 days onsite per week
Rate: £570 per day - Inside IR35 / Umbrella
Contract: 6 months
Start: ASAP

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Category Lead to support a growing procurement function during a period of increased activity and team growth. You'll help manage Professional Services and IT categories, with a key focus on contract renewals, supplier management, commercial negotiations and wider procurement activity. There are currently around 150-160 contracts requiring attention, so this is a hands-on role where you'll be expected to hit the ground running. The procurement function is still developing, so we're looking for someone who is commercially minded, proactive and comfortable working in a less mature environment, someone who can ask the right questions, challenge stakeholders and bring structure and expertise to the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Help lead procurement and contract renewals across Professional Services and IT.
• Manage contract renewals, tenders and commercial negotiations.
• Manage supplier and third-party relationships.
• Drive cost optimisation, supplier performance and risk management.
• Conduct market and spend analysis.
• Manage contracts through the full lifecycle.
• Support outsourcing and vendor management activity.
• Work closely with stakeholders and the wider procurement team.
• Help improve procurement processes and maturity.

About You

• Strong Category Management / Procurement experience.
• Professional Services and/or IT procurement experience.
• Financial Services experience essential.
• Regulated environment experience essential.
• Strong commercial negotiation and contract management skills.
• Confident managing suppliers and stakeholders.
• Comfortable working in a growing function where processes are still developing.
• Proactive, commercially aware and switched on.

System

Workday Strategic Sourcing

The Team & Environment

The successful candidate will join during a period of increased activity and will play an important role in supporting the existing team, managing the renewal workload and keeping procurement activity moving while permanent hires are onboarded. This is a great opportunity for an experienced Category Lead who enjoys a hands-on environment and making an immediate impact.