Category Manager - Tech External Worker

McKinsey & Company; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey & Company in London is seeking a senior leader to shape how our firm strategically deploys client‑facing external workers who specialise in technology, operating within the McKinsey Optimize function.

You will bridge business leaders and tech talent, design delivery models, cultivate elite talent networks, and drive cost‑efficient, high‑quality engagements across global teams while maintaining compliance and ethical standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, PhD) or equivalent practical experience strongly preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in sourcing, category management, procurement, or consulting with proven value delivery.
• Proven operational experience in a large global contingent workforce program.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel modeling

PowerPoint

Sourcing strategy

Stakeholder management

Global collaboration

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or PhD preferred

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Who You’ll Work With

You are someone who thrives in a high-performance environment, bringing a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to tackle meaningful challenges that have a real impact.

In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we’ll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities to help you quickly broaden your expertise, grow into a well-rounded professional, and contribute to work that truly makes a difference.

When you join us, you will have:

• Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast‑paced learning experience, owning your journey.
• A voice that matters: From day one we value your ideas and contributions. You’ll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
• Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Exceptional benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well‑being for you and your family.

Your Impact

You will shape how our firm strategically deploys client‑facing external workers who specialise in technology.

Operating within the McKinsey Optimize function, you will serve as the essential bridge between our business leaders and the specialised tech talent needed to deliver exceptional client outcomes.

You will lead the category strategy, transforming how we source and manage these critical external workers to ensure seamless, high‑quality experiences for both our engagement teams and our clients. Ultimately, your work will establish a scalable, sustainable strategy that continuously unlocks value, manages risks in complex engagements, and empowers the firm to scale its tech delivery capabilities globally.

You will shape total talent strategies by partnering directly with global and local business leaders to design forward‑looking delivery models, successfully aligning external tech talent sourcing with evolving client demands. Essential to this effort will be your ability to cultivate elite tech talent networks. You will actively build and nurture strategic partnerships with top‑tier and niche external worker suppliers, securing reliable access to specialised technical experts who can deliver immediate, high‑value client impact.

Additionally, you will drive commercial and sourcing excellence by rationalising our supplier landscape, streamlining procurement operations, and unlocking crucial economies of scale. Through this optimisation, you will reduce costs while maintaining the highest standard of candidate quality, performance, and overall satisfaction.

Finally, you will master risk and operational rigor by navigating complex, high‑risk talent engagements in close collaboration with our Managed Service Provider (MSP) and internal functional teams. In doing so, you will fortify contract structures, improve invoice accuracy, and ensure strict compliance across a dynamic and ever‑changing global regulatory environment.

Your Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, PhD) or equivalent practical experience strongly preferred.
• 7+ years of successful experience in sourcing, category management, procurement, or consulting, with a strong track record of delivering business value.
• Proven operational experience delivering impactful outcomes within a large, global contingent workforce programme.
• Exceptional analytical skills to assess complex problems, build robust Excel models, track key metrics, and drive data‑backed recommendations.
• Proven ability to produce executive‑ready materials that support decision‑making, including PowerPoint presentations, sourcing documentation, and contract summaries.
• Demonstrated credible leadership and a collaborative style that empowers you to offer innovative ideas and constructively challenge conventional wisdom.
• Adept at establishing trusted, non‑hierarchical relationships across global geographies, organisational functions, and all levels of seniority.
• Strong collaborative capabilities with a proven track record of influencing without direct authority and driving alignment within cross‑functional teams.
• Highly self‑motivated and autonomous, with the ability to balance long‑ and short‑term goals and shepherd initiatives from concept to successful execution.
• Strong time‑management skills and a demonstrated ability to juggle multiple priorities, drive structured processes, and deliver consistent, repeatable outcomes in a fast‑paced environment.
• High energy and a passion for taking on new challenges, coupled with a deep commitment to the firm’s mission and values.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the agility to tailor messages and effectively convey complex information to senior stakeholders.