Category Manager - IT / Technology

Matchtech; Farnborough; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Matchtech Group is seeking an experienced Category Manager - IT/Technology to join the procurement function in Farnborough, with three days on-site per week. The role focuses on IT and Professional Services sourcing, supplier performance, risk management, and stakeholder engagement in a regulated defence environment.

You will lead end-to-end sourcing activities, develop category strategies, negotiate complex contracts, and drive value while ensuring compliance and governance across the supply

Qualifications

• Extensive IT procurement experience.
• Strong professional services procurement/category management experience.
• Proven track record leading significant procurement and sourcing exercises in IT and/or professional services.
• Excellent strategic sourcing and category management capability.
• Commercial contract negotiation experience.
• Stakeholder management at senior levels.
• Supplier relationship and performance management experience.
• Ability to identify and mitigate commercial, contractual, legal, regulatory and supply chain risks.
• CIPS/MCIPS or equivalent procurement experience advantageous.
• Defence experience beneficial if security requirements can be met.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing activity across IT Services and Professional Services spend.
• Take procurement activity through the complete lifecycle: strategy, tendering, evaluation, negotiation and contract execution.
• Develop category strategies based on business requirements, market intelligence and supplier insight.
• Lead complex commercial and contractual negotiations with suppliers.
• Build relationships with senior internal stakeholders and influence procurement decisions.
• Develop strategic supplier relationships and drive improvements in supplier performance.
• Identify opportunities to utilise existing frameworks and supplier relationships to leverage organisational scale.
• Manage commercial, contractual, regulatory and supply chain risks associated with sourcing decisions.
• Develop continuous improvement plans across relevant spend categories.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with the requirements of operating within a regulated defence environment.

Skills

IT procurement

Professional services procurement

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Supplier relationship management

Risk management

CIPS/MCIPS

Defence experience

Job description

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Category Manager - IT /Technology to join the procurement function of a leading business. This position will suit a commercially strong IT procurement specialist with proven experience leading complex services sourcing activities.

You’ll have ownership of strategic sourcing initiatives, working with senior stakeholders and suppliers to deliver commercial value, manage risk and improve supplier performance in a highly regulated environment.

Role - Category Manager | Category Manager - IT / Technology
Location - Farnborough (3 days onsite p/week)
Type - Permanent
Salary - £60,000 - £70,000 + benefits

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead strategic sourcing activity across IT Services and Professional Services spend.
• Take procurement activity through the complete lifecycle, including sourcing strategy, tendering, evaluation, negotiation and contract execution.
• Develop category strategies based on business requirements, market intelligence and supplier insight.
• Lead complex commercial and contractual negotiations with suppliers.
• Build relationships with senior internal stakeholders and influence procurement and sourcing decisions.
• Develop strategic supplier relationships and drive improvements in supplier performance.
• Identify opportunities to utilise existing frameworks and supplier relationships to leverage organisational scale.
• Manage commercial, contractual, regulatory and supply chain risks associated with sourcing decisions.
• Develop continuous improvement plans across relevant spend categories.
• Ensure procurement activity complies with the requirements of operating within a regulated defence environment.

Key skills and experience required:

• Extensive experience within IT Procurement is essential.
• Strong Professional Services procurement/category management experience is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of personally leading significant procurement and sourcing exercises within IT and/or Professional Services.
• Strong strategic sourcing and category management capability.
• Commercially astute with proven contract negotiation experience.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior decision-makers.
• Experienced in supplier relationship and performance management.
• Confident identifying and mitigating commercial, contractual, legal, regulatory and supply chain risks.
• CIPS/MCIPS or equivalent procurement experience would be advantageous.
• Previous defence experience is beneficial but is not essential, provided candidates can meet the security requirements.