Category Manager, Technology

Oxford University Press; England; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational publisher in the UK seeks a confident Category Manager to optimize supplier relationships and drive procurement projects. You'll need strategic sourcing experience, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to collaborate with stakeholders. The role offers hybrid working, 25 days of holiday, private medical insurance, and a pension contribution of up to 12%. Apply now to contribute to an inclusive work environment.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays and Christmas closure

Pension contribution up to 12%

Private medical insurance

Discretionary annual management bonus

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic sourcing in a large company.
• Able to develop category strategies to meet stakeholder needs.
• Proven track record of delivering cost savings.

Responsibilities

• Maximise value derived from supplier relationships.
• Ensure timely delivery of procurement projects.
• Lead negotiations with Technology suppliers.

Skills

Procurement management experience

Understanding of Technology supply market

Project management skills

Negotiation skills

Education

CIPS Advanced Diploma (Level 5) or MCIPS Professional Diploma Level (Level 6)

Tools

Category management tools

Job description

Working as a part of the Group Procurement team you will be tasked with maximising the value (service, quality, cost, risk) derived from our supplier relationships. Primarily focussed on strategic, and other high-value suppliers, this is an opportunity for a confident and capable Category Manager to make their mark, with plenty of scope to support OUP’s evolving business.

You will be responsible for several key activities, including:

• Partnering with key stakeholders and translating their business needs to deliver commercial solutions
• Ensuring the timely delivery of specific procurement projects which achieve targeted savings and minimise supply risk
• Leading negotiations with sophisticated Technology suppliers or service providers
• Identifying efficiency opportunities and implementing associated improvements using value engineering approaches
• Applying new policy and process changes within the procurement operating environment

We operate a hybrid working policy that requires a minimum of 2 days per week in the Oxford office.

About You

Qualifications & Technical Skills

• Procurement management experience of strategic sourcing in a large company environment, preferably with European or global experience
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the Technology supply market, with experience working in Technology category management
• CIPS Advanced Diploma (Level 5) or MCIPS Professional Diploma Level (Level 6) would be advantageous but not essential
• High level of project management skills and working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders
• Proven track record of delivering cost savings across multiple business units and spend categories

Skills and Behaviours

• Conversant and experienced in the application of modern category management tools and techniques, with an ability to develop category strategies to meet stakeholder needs
• Able to forge close, partnering relationships with Technology stakeholders at all levels (up to C-suite level)
• Has excellent technical knowledge and experience in category management application
• Commercial acumen with proficient negotiation skills, with confidence and ability to lead complex commercial negotiations and achieve results

We care about work/life balance here at OUP. With this in mind we offer 25 days’ holiday that rises with service, plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (3-days) and a 35-hour working week. We are open to discussing flexibility in respect to working patterns, dependent on role. We also have a great variety of active employee networks and societies.

We help make your money go further by contributing to your pension up to 12%, offering loans and savings schemes through our partnership with Salary Finance, in addition to travel to work schemes and access to a wide range of local discounts.

This role comes with the added benefit of private medical insurance and a discretionary annual management bonus.

Please see our Rewards and Recognition page for more information.

We are committed to supporting diversity in our workforce, and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek to employ a workforce representative of the markets that we serve and encourage applications from all.