Category Manager - Professional Services

Howden Group Holdings; City Of London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global insurance company in London is hiring a strategic leader to manage the Professional Services category, focusing on Consultancy, HR, and Finance services. The role requires expertise in procurement and strong stakeholder management skills. Responsibilities include defining category strategy, leading procurement activities, and driving cost savings. Ideal candidates possess a related university degree and relevant procurement experience. This is an excellent opportunity for driven professionals looking to make a significant impact.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Support for personal development

Focus on work/life balance

Qualifications

• Expertise in Professional Services procurement, particularly across Consultancy, HR, and Finance.
• Strong commercial and analytical capabilities.
• Proven negotiation and contract management experience with service providers.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Defining and executing the category strategy for Consultancy, Human Resources, and Finance services.
• Leading procurement activities across management consultancy and HR services.
• Identifying opportunities to leverage group frameworks.
• Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the business.
• Delivering cost savings and service quality improvements.
• Providing category insights and market intelligence.
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Leading end-to-end sourcing activities including RFx development.
• Champion sustainability and ethical sourcing.
• Providing leadership for Procurement Specialists.

Skills

Expertise in Professional Services procurement

Strong commercial and analytical capabilities

Proven negotiation and contract management experience

Excellent stakeholder management

Experience using Source to Pay tools

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, BI)

Education

University degree in Business, HR, Finance, Procurement, or related field

Job description

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like‑minded people driving change at Howden.

Why work at Howden?

We have always been employee‑owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed head‑hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like‑minded people driving change at Howden.

What is the role?

Responsible for the strategic management of the Professional Services category, with a specific focus on External workforce, Human Resources (HR), BPO and Finance services. The role will define and manage category priorities, drive value creation and ensure alignment with business objectives. Working closely with internal stakeholders and the Head of Procurement, the role will ensure alignment with business needs and regulatory requirements, while driving continuous improvement and supplier innovation across these service areas.

What will you be doing?

• Defining and executing the category strategy for Consultancy, Human Resources, and Finance services in line with procurement objectives.
• Leading procurement activities across management consultancy, HR services (e.g., recruitment, training, benefits), and financial advisory services.
• Identifying opportunities to leverage group frameworks and optimise spend across the category.
• Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders across HR, Finance, and other business functions.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the business, partnering on marketing procurement related matters for the organisation.
• Delivering cost savings, service quality improvements, and risk mitigation through strategic supplier management.
• Providing category insights and market intelligence to support stakeholder decision‑making.
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory and governance requirements in sourcing activities.
• Leading end‑to‑end sourcing activities including RFx development, supplier evaluation, and contract negotiation.
• Champion sustainability, diversity, and ethical sourcing within the Professional Services supply base.
• Providing day‑to‑day leadership and development for Procurement Specialists supporting the category.

What are we looking for?

Skills required

• Expertise in Professional Services procurement, particularly across Consultancy, HR, and Finance.
• Strong commercial and analytical capabilities.
• Proven negotiation and contract management experience with service providers.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience using Source to Pay and procurement analytics tools.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, BI).

Competencies

• Extensive experience in Professional Services category management.
• Demonstrated success in delivering value and strategic initiatives in a Professional Services context.
• Strong knowledge of leading practice procurement processes and Professional Services suppliers.
• University degree in Business, HR, Finance, Procurement, or related field.
• Ability to build relationships and influence at senior levels across HR, Finance, and Procurement.
• Leadership experience and ability to manage and develop team members.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define.

Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges.

And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Howden we value diversity – there is no one Howden ‘personality type’. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

We consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.

Our sustainability promise

We’re on a life‑long journey to become an ever‑more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here.

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.