Global Corporate Services Category Manager

Schroders; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global investment manager is seeking a Global Corporate Services Category Manager to lead strategy and procurement across various corporate spend areas. This key role involves developing procurement strategies, managing vendor relationships, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in financial services with proven negotiation skills and a focus on sustainability practices. This position offers a strategic role within a dynamic team based in London.

Qualifications

• Experience in financial services or asset management preferred.
• Strong background in vendor management and contract negotiation.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with business priorities.
• Lead sourcing and negotiation for major corporate services.
• Support ESG goals by embedding sustainability into procurement practices.

Skills

Vendor management

Procurement

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Sustainability practices

Leadership skills

Financial acumen

Education

Experience in corporate/professional services

Knowledge of procurement systems (e.g., SAP Ariba, Coupa)

Job description

Job Description

Who we're looking for

The Global Corporate Services Category Manager is accountable for leading the strategy, sourcing, negotiation across all group-wide non-Technology corporate spend (excluding Market Data) areas including professional services, HR, travel and marketing. The role ensures value delivery, contract optimisation, risk mitigation, and alignment with business objectives across corporate services spend. Based in London, the role reports into the Chief Procurement Officer, who has responsible for all Procurement activity across the organisation.

About Schroders

We're a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

We have around 6,000 people on six continents. And we've been around for over 200 years but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn't change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.

Group Procurement is the centre of excellence for active commercial management of all of Schroders' supply chain, enabled by great people, disciplined cost management and seamless risk and compliance. Group Procurement sits within the COO Corporate Functions, supporting the wider business on all its third-party commercial activity. The team are made up of multiple disciplines across Market Data & Operations, Technology, Corporate Services, Third Party Risk and Procurement Operations. Located across London, Horsham, Singapore, and New York.

The base

We moved into our new HQ in the City of London in 2018. We're close to our clients, in the heart of the UK's financial centre and we have everything we need to work flexibly.

What you'll do

• Develop and execute the global corporate services procurement strategy in alignment with business and priorities.
• Lead and develop category teams to uplift capability in commercial, digital, and regulatory skills.
• Lead sourcing, negotiation, and contract execution for major corporate services projects
• Develop and execute category strategies and sourcing plans for all corporate service spend, aligned to business priorities.
• Commercial areas of accountability across team include.
  • Professional Services - Advisory, Business Transformation, Audit Services, Insurance services
  • Global Workforce - Human Resources / People & Culture - Recruitment, Learning & Development, Corporate Services - Travel and Marketing
• Market Horizon Scanning & Benchmarking
  • Track and respond to changes in labour markets, regulations, and workforce models.
  • Analyse market changes and workforce models to guide internal planning and strategy evolution.
• Support ESG goals by embedding sustainability into procurement practices.
• Build stakeholder confidence by demonstrating procurement as a strategic enabler for corporate initiatives
• Ensure compliance with procurement policy and control frameworks

The knowledge, experience and qualifications you need

• Experience across corporate services and / or professional services, preferably in financial services or asset management.
• Strong background in vendor management, procurement, and contract negotiation.
• Knowledge of operational resilience frameworks and regulatory expectations in financial services.
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams and manage cross-functional projects.
• Strong stakeholder management skills at the executive and board level
• Advanced commercial, negotiation, and supplier management capabilities.
• Proven track record embedding sustainability and governance frameworks in procurement.
• Knowledge of procurement systems (e.g., SAP Ariba, Coupa).
• Legal and regulatory familiarity with supplier engagement in FS environment

Key competencies

• Corporate Services Category Expertise
• Stakeholder Management
• ESG and Governance Leadership
• Financial & Commercial Acumen
• Project Leadership
• Change & Continuous Improvement Orientation

We recognise potential, whoever you are

Our purpose is to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. Diversity of thought, facilitated by an inclusive culture, will allow us to make better decisions and better achieve our purpose. This is why inclusion and diversity are a strategic priority for us and why we are an equal opportunities employer. You are welcome here, regardless of your age, disability, gender identity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, or any other protected characteristic.

About Us

We're a global investment manager. We help institutions, intermediaries and individuals around the world invest money to meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future.

We have around 6,000 people on six continents. And we've been around for over 200 years, but keep adapting as society and technology changes. What doesn't change is our commitment to helping our clients, and society, prosper.