Global Category Manager - Publishing Technology - 7484

Cambridge University Press & Assessment; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Private medical

Discretionary annual bonus

Group personal pension scheme

Life assurance

Green travel schemes

Job summary

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is seeking a Global Category Manager – Publishing Technology in Cambridge. The role shapes technology platforms, digital services, AI, and cloud solutions to enable innovation and growth across a global organisation.

You will lead strategic sourcing, optimise supplier performance, and drive value through technology investments, reporting to Technology, Product, Content and Digital teams. The position is hybrid, with 2 days in the office.

Qualifications

• Experience in technology sourcing and category management.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of AI, cloud technologies, and digital publishing solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop the global Publishing Technology category strategy.
• Lead sourcing across software, digital platforms, licensing, and tech services.
• Manage strategic relationships with technology suppliers and SaaS providers.
• Drive cost optimisation, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Provide insight into emerging technologies, market trends and supplier capabilities.
• Support digital transformation initiatives through technology procurement and partnerships.

Skills

Technology sourcing

Category management

Negotiation

Job description

Job Title: Global Category Manager – Publishing Technology

Salary: £45,100 - £60,400

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

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time – 35 hours per week

Shape the future of publishing by driving the technology, platforms, and digital services that enable innovation, efficiency, and growth across a global organisation.

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 – Publishing Technology, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the technologies that support our publishing operations and digital transformation ambitions. From software platforms and digital content solutions to workflow systems, AI technologies, and cloud-based services, you'll develop and deliver category strategies that drive value, innovation, and operational excellence across the organisation.

Working closely with Technology, Product, Content, and Digital teams, you'll lead strategic sourcing initiatives, optimise supplier performance, and influence technology investment decisions. You'll use your market expertise to identify emerging trends, assess new technologies, and help ensure the organisation has access to the solutions and partnerships needed to support future growth.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Developing and delivering the global Publishing Technology category strategy
• Leading sourcing activities across software, digital platforms, licensing, and technology services
• Managing strategic relationships with technology suppliers and SaaS providers
• Driving cost optimisation, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Providing insight into emerging technologies, market trends, and supplier capabilities
• Supporting digital transformation initiatives through technology procurement and supplier partnerships

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of procurement, technology, and publishing, helping to deliver the digital capabilities, platforms, and supplier partnerships that enable innovation and business transformation across a global organisation.

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 you require adjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition.

About You

You will be an experienced procurement professional with a strong background in technology sourcing and category management, covering areas such as software, SaaS solutions, digital platforms, licensing, cloud services, or outsourced technology providers.

You'll understand how technology supports digital transformation and be confident developing sourcing strategies that deliver commercial value, innovation, and operational improvements.

With strong commercial and negotiation skills, you'll be comfortable managing complex technology suppliers and contracts while building effective relationships across Technology, Product, Content, and Digital teams. You'll use market insight and data to identify opportunities, manage risk, and maximise value from technology investments.

You'll also have a keen interest in emerging technologies, staying ahead of trends in areas such as AI, automation, cloud platforms, and digital publishing solutions to support continuous improvement and business transformation.

If you meet the aboveminimumrequirements, we encourage you to apply. Your application will be even stronger if you can also demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

• CIPS qualification (or working towards).
• Experience within publishing, digital media, or technology-driven environments.
• Knowledge of AI, automation, cloud technologies, digital asset management, or content management platforms.

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, and disclose a 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 the gov.uk website 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 be 31st 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 you are 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 you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or a 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 to an equitable recruitment process.

Why join us

Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You will belong to a collaborative team that is exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and 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, where it is safe 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, gender identity and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background.

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