Category Manager, Technology

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

Job summary

A leading educational publisher in England is seeking a confident and capable Category Manager to join their Group Procurement team. This role focuses on maximising supplier relationships with an emphasis on strategic and high-value Technology suppliers. Candidates should have experience in procurement management, strong project management skills, and excellent negotiation abilities. The position offers a hybrid working policy, competitive benefits, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Pension contribution up to 12%

Private medical insurance

Management bonus

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic sourcing in a large company environment.
• Track record of delivering cost savings across multiple business units.
• Ability to develop category strategies to meet stakeholder needs.

Responsibilities

• Translate business needs to deliver commercial solutions.
• Lead negotiations with Technology suppliers.
• Implement efficiency improvements using value engineering.

Skills

Procurement management experience

Knowledge of Technology supply market

Project management skills

Negotiation skills

Education

CIPS Advanced Diploma (Level 5)

MCIPS Professional Diploma Level (Level 6)

Tools

Category management tools and techniques

Job description

About the Role

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.

Benefits

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 management bonus.

Please see our Rewards and Recognition page for more information.

Queries

Please contact [e-mail] with any queries relating to this role.

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.