IT Category Manager

Huntress; Langstone; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking an IT Category Manager to lead the development of category plans and manage technology suppliers. The role requires strong negotiation skills and IT market insight, focusing on maximizing commercial value. Essential qualifications include experience in multi-stakeholder environments and an understanding of IT supply chains. The position is full-time, hybrid based in Portsmouth, offering a salary range of £55,000-£66,000.

Qualifications

• Skilled at interpreting and presenting complex commercial and contractual data to diverse audiences.
• Proven experience in a multi-stakeholder environment, working within multi-disciplinary teams to deliver results.
• Strong resolution and influencing skills with a focus on delivering high-value outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement robust demand and category strategies.
• Direct the full sourcing life‑cycle including tenders and negotiations.
• Build and maintain high-trust partnerships with stakeholders.
• Manage high-impact IT category expenditure.

Skills

Interpreting and presenting complex commercial and contractual data

Working in multi-stakeholder environments

Strong resolution and influencing skills

Knowledge of IT supply chains

Education

CIPS or MCIPS qualified

Job description

We are seeking a strategic and forward-thinking professional to join our client's Procurement team as an IT Category Manager. In this role, you will lead the development and execution of end-to-end category plans, identifying key initiatives to maximise commercial value and mitigate risk across the organisation. You will manage a comprehensive portfolio of technology suppliers, ensuring continuous improvement and added value throughout the entire contract life cycle. Leveraging your deep IT market insight, you will act as a primary advisor to internal stakeholders, helping to shape the future of our digital service delivery.

Details

• Title: Category Manager
• Salary: £55,000-£66,000 DOE
• Contract: Permanent, full-time
• Location: Portsmouth, hybrid working

Key responsibilities

• Design and implement robust demand and category strategies, engaging with business leads to align procurement with technical requirements.
• Direct the full sourcing life‑cycle including tenders and high-level negotiations to optimise the Total Cost of Ownership.
• Build and maintain high-trust, influential partnerships with senior internal stakeholders and external vendors.
• Manage high-impact IT category expenditure, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and identifying areas of potential strategic risk.
• Support the ongoing development of procurement best practices, ensuring workflows remain modern, efficient, and effective.
• Partner with business leaders to achieve cost reductions through technical standardisation, demand aggregation, and tail‑spend management.
• Ensure all sourcing initiatives strictly adhere to industry-specific regulations, statutory obligations, and data protection requirements.
• Integrate health, safety, and well‑being standards into all supplier qualification processes and sourcing strategies.

What we are looking for

Essential Skills & Experience

• Skilled at interpreting and presenting complex commercial and contractual data to diverse audiences.
• Proven experience in a multi-stakeholder environment, working within multi-disciplinary teams to deliver results.
• Strong resolution and influencing skills with a focus on delivering high‑value outcomes.
• Specific knowledge of IT supply chains in a similar role.

Desirable Qualifications

• CIPS or MCIPS qualified, or possessing equivalent transferable expertise.
• Experience working within regulated procurement frameworks (such as UCR, PCR, or PA23).
• A high level of proven contractual intuition and business logic.

Huntress Search Ltd acts as a Recruitment Agency in relation to all Permanent roles and as a Recruitment Business in relation to all Temporary roles.

We practice a diverse and inclusive recruitment process that ensures equal opportunity for all we work with, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. As an organisation, we encourage applications from all backgrounds and will ensure measures are met when required, to allow a fair process throughout.

PLEASE NOTE: We can only consider applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK.