Category Manager

Leonardo UK Ltd; Easter Howgate; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence company is seeking a Category Manager to oversee complex strategic Services Procurement projects. Responsibilities include managing significant spending and ensuring optimal cost through strategic sourcing and contract negotiations. The ideal candidate will have experience in IT/Indirect Services, strong stakeholder management skills, and be a proactive self-starter. This position offers a hybrid work model and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Generous leave with additional flexi-days

Pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution

Free access to mental health support

Bonus scheme for eligible employees

Access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera

Financial rewards through referral programme

Flexible benefits including private healthcare

Qualifications

• Managing significant (£Ms per annum) strategic spend.
• Drafting, negotiating, and managing contracts.
• Ability to define and implement category strategies.

Responsibilities

• Managing delivery of complex strategic Services Procurement projects.
• Actively managing delivery of Indirect Services procurement projects.

Skills

IT / Indirect Services strategic sourcing, planning and execution

Excellent Stakeholder Management

IT / Indirect Services Category Management experience

Procurement project management experience

Excellent analytical skills

Education

Educated to degree level

CIPS qualified

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Description

Your Impact

We have an exciting new role working within our UK Indirect Procurement function. This role will be supporting the delivery of vital services in strategically important areas of the business. This role will ensure we acquire cost-effective, high-quality solutions that support our technology strategy while maintaining strong vendor relationships and compliance with procurement policies.

What you will do as Category Manager

You will be managing the delivery of complex strategic Services Procurement projects, including IT, with particular focus on Strategic Sourcing and contract negotiations to deliver optimum cost and value for Leonardo.

You will be responsible for managing significant (£Ms per annum) strategic spend. Reporting to the Senior Procurement Manager, actively managing delivery of Indirect Services procurement projects.

What you'll bring

• IT / Indirect Services strategic sourcing, planning and execution
• IT / Indirect Services contract drafting, negotiations and management
• Excellent Stakeholder Management
• IT / Indirect Services Category Management experience
• Highly motivated, proactive, self-starter
• Procurement project management experience
• Excellent analytical skills

It would be nice if you had

• Security clearance
• Educated to degree level
• CIPS qualified
• Experience of cross site, cross functional collaborative working
• Ability to define and implement category strategies
• Excel, Word and PowerPoint skills
• Demonstrable change management capability

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location: GB - Edinburgh

Additional Locations: GB - Basildon, GB - Luton - Cap. Green 300, GB - Southampton

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Hybrid