Category Manager

Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS); Watford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company based in Watford is seeking a Category Manager for HR and Travel services. You will manage category strategies and supplier relationships, ensuring optimal sourcing solutions. Ideal candidates will have experience in managing HR and Travel categories, with strong analytical and negotiation skills. This role offers competitive salary and growth opportunities. Join the team that fosters diversity and collaboration while making an impact.

Benefits

Opportunities for growth

Competitive salary

Learning and development programs

Qualifications

• Experience in global sourcing and Low-Cost Country Sourcing preferred.
• Strong ability to manage priorities and good time management skills.
• Training & development skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage delivery and implementation of category strategies for HR and Travel services.
• Build strong relationships with HR and Travel service providers.
• Partner with business leaders to understand needs and deliver tailored solutions.

Skills

Experience in managing HR or Travel categories

Strong business, analytical and people management skills

Excellent interpersonal relationship development skills

Multi-country negotiations and contracts

Advanced Excel and PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Oracle

SAP

Ariba

Job description

At TJX Europe, every day brings new opportunities for growth, exploration, and achievement. You'll be part of our vibrant team that embraces diversity, fosters collaboration, and prioritises your development. Whether you're working in our Distribution Centers, Corporate Offices, or Retail Stores – TK Maxx & Homesense – you'll find abundant opportunities to learn, thrive, and make an impact. Come join our TJX team – a Fortune 100 company and the world’s leading off‑price retailer.

Job Description

Category Manager – HR and Travel

Job Profile

To manage the delivery and implementation of GS&P category strategies across TJX Europe. Through collaboration with the business and vendors alike, the Category Manager will ensure that the needs of the business are achieved through the implementation of optimal sourcing solutions. This role is pivotal in ensuring that HR and Travel related sourcing needs are met through innovative, cost-effective and compliant sourcing solutions. A key component of this role is the ability to build strategic relationships with business partners, manage supplier relationships, develop and execute sourcing strategies in line with business requirements and to project manage and deliver a variety of end‑to‑end sourcing events.

This role is based in Watford with occasional travel overseas.

Key Responsibilities

Global Strategic Sourcing

• Executes global, international and national category plans via tools embedded in the strategic sourcing methodology and in collaboration with internal business partners.
• Embraces regional international and cross‑functional multi‑cultural teams in the execution of the strategic sourcing process and the implementation of the strategy.
• Develops and evolves product or service requirements across all TJX’s brands and geographies.
• Maximises opportunities to batch multi‑divisional requirements to create larger pools of sourcing to increase savings to TJX.
• Prepares a regional negotiation plan and executes accordingly involving TJX legal, as necessary.
• Pro‑actively uses automated sourcing processes including auctions, RFX’s, and relationship management systems.

Supplier Relationship

Build strong relationships with HR and Travel service providers, negotiating optimal terms, cost optimisation and fostering partnerships that deliver value and quality.

Process Improvement

Drive efficiencies through market intelligence and insights, process enhancements, and leveraging technology to support HR and Travel growth.

Regional Vendor Management

• Manages the commercial element of supplier relationships.
• Understands trade‑offs of risk, quality, and cost, and be able to manage each area through supplier management, contracting, and negotiations.
• Maintains fair, courteous and productive relationships with all TJX international strategic vendors and reinforces TJXE’s positive brand image within the vendor community.
• Looks to identify or develop and incorporate innovative products, services, approaches such as off‑shoring, out‑sourcing, consortia development, best country sourcing to support TJXE low‑cost producer strategy.

Business Partner Collaboration

Partner with HR and Travel business leaders to understand needs and deliver tailored solutions that support areas of responsibility. Foster deep and trusting relationships with business partners, through regular communication, building influence and credibility within the category.

Contract Compliance

• Ensure that appropriate contractual terms are in place.
• Prepares category reports for the Manager Of Category and the GSPLT.

Innovation

• Raises market innovation for covered categories and brings applicable ideas to the business for testing, cost modelling and performance measurement.

People Management and Leadership

• Supports the optimisation of TJXE £500 million indirect spend globally (6+ countries).
• On a category basis, undertakes annual sourcing initiatives delivering approx. £1m in yearly savings.
• Responsible and impacts up to £75+ million in indirect spend on an international basis.
• Manages key strategic and day to day operational regional supplier relationships by actively planning and delivering on action items through the management of regional and national account executives.
• Actively represents TJX within the global supplier community and the business world at large.
• Vendor management and the harvesting of innovation from our vendor community is an integral part of the job description.
• Recommends category initiative within portfolio of spend (10 to 20 initiatives per year).
• Decides on negotiation plan and executes accordingly.
• Recommendation for final vendor selection.

Strategic Procurement

Develop and execute category strategies for HR and Travel services including Talent Acquisition and Recruitment, Employee Health & Wellbeing, Employee Benefits, Training, Travel and Fleet, ensuring alignment with business objectives and compliance requirements.

Key Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (preferred).
• Experience in managing HR or Travel categories.
• Expertise in global strategic category sourcing.
• Experience in global sourcing and Low‑Cost Country Sourcing preferred.
• Multi‑country negotiations and contracts.
• Experience in managing multiple stakeholders.
• Strong ability to manage priorities and good time management skills.
• Oracle/SAP/Ariba or similar e‑sourcing/P2P experience/knowledge.
• Strong business, analytical and people management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal relationship development skills.
• Training & development skills.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint.

As proud as we are of our past success, it’s our future that excites us most. We strive to provide opportunities for growth, recognition and a competitive salary and benefits package. Share our determination to think bolder and bigger, and be part of our future. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and/or sexual orientation.

Address: 73 Clarendon Road

EUR Home Office, Watford GB