Category Manager

Lorien; Ipswich, Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Job summary

Lorien is seeking a Category Manager with strong SaaS experience to join an Insurance client on a 6-month contract. The role is Inside IR35 with hybrid work arrangements in Ipswich/London, up to 2–3 days per month on site.

You will lead end-to-end IT sourcing across software, SaaS, cloud and IT services, negotiate contracts, manage RFx processes and support governance and risk reviews.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of IT Procurement/Tech Sourcing experience.
• Experience leading sourcing events and supplier negotiations.
• Experience negotiating IT contracts with Legal teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end IT sourcing for software, SaaS, cloud, telecoms and services.
• Manage RFx processes, supplier evaluations, pricing analysis and negotiations.
• Negotiate software/SaaS/cloud agreements including pricing, data protection and SLAs.
• Translate technical requirements into procurement strategies for suppliers.
• Prepare sourcing docs and business cases per governance.
• Support supplier risk, security and compliance reviews.
• Review supplier proposals to optimize price and terms.
• Collaborate with Legal on contract review and execution.
• Maintain procurement records and supplier communications.
• Support renewals, true-ups and lifecycle activities.

Skills

IT Procurement

Software/SaaS

Contract Negotiation

RFx Management

Licensing Models

Governance

Cloud & IT Services

Supplier Evaluation

Education

CIPS qualification

Tools

Ariba

Coupa

Ivalua

ServiceNow

Job description

We are currently recruiting for a Category Manager with strong SaaS experience to join one of our Insurance clients on a 6-month contract

Inside IR35

Hybrid- Ipswich/London a max of 2/3 time a month

The Role

• Lead and support end-to-end IT sourcing activities across software, SaaS, cloud, telecoms and technology services.
• Manage RFx processes, supplier evaluations, pricing analysis and commercial negotiations.
• Negotiate software, SaaS, cloud and professional services agreements, including pricing, liability, data protection, service levels and termination provisions.
• Translate technical requirements into commercial procurement strategies and supplier engagement approaches.
• Prepare sourcing documentation, business cases and approval packs in line with procurement governance requirements.
• Support supplier risk, security, privacy and compliance reviews where required.
• Review supplier proposals and identify opportunities to improve price, licence structure, commercial terms and service commitments.
• Work with Legal and business stakeholders to support contract review, negotiation and execution.
• Maintain sourcing documentation, supplier communications and procurement records in line with internal process requirements.
• Support supplier onboarding, renewals, software true-ups and contract lifecycle activities where required.

The Requirements

• 10+ years of strong IT Procurement, Technology Procurement or IT Sourcing experience.
• Strong experience running sourcing events and supplier negotiations.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating IT contracts alongside Legal teams.
• Strong understanding of software, SaaS, cloud, telecoms and IT services procurement.
• Understanding of common enterprise software licensing models, including subscription, user-based, consumption-based and perpetual licensing structures.
• Experience working within a corporate procurement environment with defined governance and approval processes.
• Experience using procurement and contract management platforms such as Ariba, Coupa, Ivalua, ServiceNow or similar solutions.
• Software and SaaS procurement experience.
• Microsoft licensing experience.
• Cloud services experience across AWS, Azure, GCP or similar platforms.
• IT professional services sourcing experience.
• Telecoms and network services sourcing experience.
• Contract negotiation and RFx management experience.
• CIPS qualification, or working towards it.