IT Category Manager

Proactive Appointments; Purbrook; Hybrid; GBP 61,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Excellent benefits package

Job summary

Proactive Appointments in Portsmouth is recruiting an IT Category Manager to own the IT procurement strategy, lead sourcing, and manage supplier relationships. The role requires a commercially driven procurement professional who can drive value, innovation and efficiencies across the organisation.

You will collaborate with internal stakeholders, maintain governance, ensure compliance, and deliver cost reductions through standardisation and strategic sourcing across IT categories.

Qualifications

• Analyse and present complex procurement data to stakeholders.
• Strong organisation to manage multiple workstreams.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Self-starter with resilience under pressure.
• Knowledge of water industry or IT category supply chain.
• Experience in strategic sourcing in multi-stakeholder environments.
• Transferable business or supply chain knowledge.
• Track record delivering against stretching targets.

Responsibilities

• Support development and continual improvement of procurement practices across full lifecycle.
• Build trusted relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Deliver exceptional customer service to internal teams and external partners.
• Promote continuous improvement in procurement procedures and practices.
• Manage IT category spend with strategic impact aligned to business goals.
• Develop and implement category and demand strategies with stakeholders.
• Lead commercial activities across sourcing lifecycle to maximise value.
• Drive cost reduction through standardisation and aggregation.
• Ensure compliance with procurement regulations and data protection.

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Organisation / multitasking

Resilience under pressure

Industry knowledge (water/IT)

Strategic sourcing

Target delivery

Education

CIPS or MCIPS

Job description

IT Category Manager

Portsmouth, Hampshire | Permanent | Up to £68,000 per annum | Hybrid (2 days on-site per week) | Excellent Benefits Package

We are working with a leading organisation that is looking to appoint an experienced IT Category Manager to take ownership of its IT procurement strategy. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially driven procurement professional to lead sourcing activity across the IT category, manage key supplier relationships and drive value, innovation and efficiencies across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and continual improvement of procurement best practices across the full lifecycle, ensuring processes remain current and effective.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Deliver exceptional customer service to both internal teams and external partners, promoting clear and proactive communication.
• Promote continuous improvement in procurement procedures and working practices to enhance service delivery and efficiency.
• Manage IT category spend with high strategic impact, ensuring alignment with business goals and risk mitigation.
• Develop and implement category and demand strategies by engaging stakeholders to understand business needs and specifications.
• Lead commercial activities across the sourcing lifecycle, delivering value creation and minimising total cost of ownership.
• Collaborate with business leaders to drive cost reduction through standardisation, aggregation, and minimising tail spend.
• Ensure full compliance with utilities procurement regulations, statutory obligations, and data protection requirements throughout sourcing processes.

Essential Experience Required

• Ability to analyse and present complex commercial/contractual data and concepts to a wide range of stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple workstreams
• Solid negotiation, influencing and resolution skills
• Outstanding communication skills and customer service ethic with strong stakeholder engagement capabilities
• Self-starter - resilient and tenacious under pressure and willingness to develop skills and experience
• Knowledge of the water industry and/or IT category specific supply chain
• Experience of strategic sourcing in a multi-stakeholder environment and working within multi-disciplinary teams
• Relevant transferable business and/or supply chain knowledge
• Track record in delivering against stretching target

Desirable

• Excellent proven commercial and contractual acumen
• Knowledge and experience of regulated procurement procedures (either UCR, PCR or PA23)
• CIPS or MCIPS qualified; or alternative qualifications in transferable expertise
• Project management experience or qualifications

Due to the volume of applications received for positions, it will not be possible to respond to all applications and only applicants who are considered suitable for interview will be contacted.

Proactive Appointments Limited operates as an employment agency and employment business and is an equal opportunities organisation

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