Global Category Manager - Core Technology - 7487

Cambridge University Press; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Private medical insurance

Discretionary annual bonus

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Green travel schemes

Job summary

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is seeking a Global Category Manager for Core Technology in Cambridge. You will lead the strategy for our technology portfolio, including cloud services, infrastructure, networks, and managed services, ensuring a secure, scalable environment.

Working with Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Architecture, Operations and Finance, you will develop sourcing strategies, optimise value, and drive business transformation while balancing risk, sustainability, and

Qualifications

• Experience leading Core Technology procurement and category strategies.
• Strong knowledge of cloud services, networks, infrastructure, and end-user devices.
• Proven ability to optimise costs, manage risk, and maximise supplier value.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop the global Core Technology category strategy.
• Lead sourcing across cloud services, infrastructure, networks, hardware, and managed services.
• Manage strategic relationships with cloud providers, vendors, and partners.
• Support cloud transformation, network modernisation, and technology refresh programmes.
• Drive cost optimisation, resilience, supplier innovation, and risk reduction.
• Provide market insight on trends like cybersecurity, automation, and sustainable tech.

Skills

Core Technology sourcing

Category management

Cloud services

Infrastructure & networks

Cybersecurity

Supplier relationships

Cost optimisation

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Job description

Job Title: Global Category Manager – Core Technology

Salary: £45,100 - £60,400

Location: Cambridge, UK/Hybrid - minimum 2 days per week working from the office

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time – 35 hours per week

Lead the strategy behind our global Core Technology portfolio, delivering value through cloud transformation, technology innovation, and world‑class supplier partnerships.

We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world‑leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.

About the role

As our Global Category Manager – Core Technology, you will lead the strategy for the technologies that underpin our global organisation, including cloud services, infrastructure, networks, end‑user devices, storage, and managed services. You'll play a key role in ensuring our technology estate remains secure, resilient, scalable, and aligned to evolving business needs.

Working closely with Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Architecture, Operations, and Finance teams, you'll develop category strategies that optimise technology investment, maximise supplier value, and support major transformation initiatives. You will help drive better commercial outcomes while balancing operational performance, cybersecurity requirements, sustainability objectives, and risk management.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Developing and delivering the global Core Technology category strategy

• Leading sourcing activities across cloud services, infrastructure, networks, hardware, and managed services

• Managing strategic relationships with cloud providers, technology vendors, and service partners

• Supporting initiatives such as cloud transformation, network modernisation, and technology refresh programmes

• Driving cost optimisation, operational resilience, supplier innovation, and risk reduction

• Providing market insight on emerging technology trends, cybersecurity developments, automation, and sustainable technology solutions

This is an opportunity to influence some of the organisation's most critical technology decisions, helping ensure our global technology environment remains secure, resilient, and ready to support future business growth and transformation.

This position has been classified as a hybrid role, requiring the selected candidate to typically spend 40-60% of their time collaborating and connecting face-to-face at their dedicated location. Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should yourequireadjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition.

About You

You will be an experienced procurement professional with a strong background in Core Technology sourcing and category management, covering areas such as cloud services, infrastructure, networks, hardware, end‑user devices, cybersecurity, and managed services.

You'll have a strong understanding of technology markets and be confident developing sourcing strategies that deliver commercial value, operational resilience, and long-term business benefit.

With excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, you will be comfortable working with Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Architecture, Operations, and Finance teams to align technology investment with business objectives. You will bring strong commercial and negotiation expertise, with experience managing complex technology contracts, supplier relationships, and service frameworks.

You'll be passionate about technology and innovation, keeping pace with emerging trends in cloud transformation, automation, cybersecurity, AI‑driven operations, and sustainable technology solutions. Using data, market insight, and strategic thinking, you'll identify opportunities to optimise costs, mitigate risk, and maximise value from technology partnerships.

If you meet theaboveminimumrequirements, your application will be even stronger if you can alsodemonstratethefollowingdesirablecriteria:

• CIPS qualification (or working towards).

• Experience supporting cloud transformation, network modernisation, infrastructure refresh, or digital transformation programmes.

• Knowledge of emerging technologies, including cloud optimisation, cybersecurity frameworks, automation, AI‑driven operations, or sustainable technology practices.

For a detailed job description, please refer to the link at the bottom of the advert on our careers site.

We are a Disability Confident (DC) employer that is committed to equality and inclusion ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. The DC scheme's Offer of an Interview commitment applies to applicants who opt in, anddisclosea disability or a long‑term health condition, and who best meet theminimumcriteria for the role. In instances where interviewing all qualifying candidates is notpracticableand/orappropriate, we prioritise those who best meet theminimumcriteria, as we would for applicants who do not have a disability or long-term health condition.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is an approved UK employer for the sponsorship of eligible roles and applicants under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please refer to thegov.ukwebsite for guidance to understand your own eligibility based on the role you are applying for.

Rewards and benefits

We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world‑class, flexiblerewards package, featuring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

• Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance

• Discretionary annual bonus

• Group personal pension scheme

• Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary

• Green travel schemes

We aim to support candidates by making our interview process clear and transparent. The closing date for all applications will be31st August 2026. We will review applications on an ongoing basis, and shortlisted candidates can expect interviews to take place from week commencing 7th September 2026.

If youare shortlisted and progressed through the stages, you can expect:

• First stage virtual interview via MS Teams.

• Final stage interview: in-person at our offices in Cambridge.

If yourequireany reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or long-term health condition, there will be an opportunity for you to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry.

We are committed toan equitablerecruitment process. As such, applications must besubmittedvia our official online application procedure.

Why join us

Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential.You willbelong to a collaborative teamthat isexploring new and better ways to serve students,teachersand researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals,societyand the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth,developmentand progress, in an environment which embraces difference, change and aspiration.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, whereit issafe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, genderidentityand sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background.

We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought,backgroundand approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, activelyseekingto employ people from a wide range of different communities.