Lead Category Manager

NCC Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading security services company seeks a Lead Category Manager in Manchester to develop global sourcing strategies for Technology Services, balancing innovation and cost-efficiency. The ideal candidate has proven experience in procurement with strong analytical and negotiation skills. Join a diverse team committed to making society safer and experience flexible working and generous benefits.

Benefits

Flexible Working

Generous Holiday Allowance

Medicash & Critical Illness Scheme

Pension and Share Save Scheme

Community & Volunteering Programmes

Green Car Scheme

Cycle-to-work scheme

Special Time Off

Family Planning support

Qualifications

• Proven experience in procurement or category management.
• Deep understanding of global technology services markets.
• Strong business acumen to influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the global category strategy for Technology Services.
• Manage sourcing and negotiations for various services like consulting and cloud platforms.
• Collaborate with finance and business leaders to align strategies.

Skills

Negotiation

Cost Management

Strategic Thinking

Collaboration

Analytical Skills

Education

Degree in Business, Technology or related discipline

Job description

Role: Lead Category Manager

Location: Manchester – Hybrid

Thanks for checking out our job opening; we are excited that YOU are interested in learning more about NCC Group.

We are on a mission to make society a safer and more secure place. Our people are the ones who make that possible; a global community of talented individuals working together towards a safer future.

We aim to create an environment where everyone can reach their full potential. We work together, we are brilliantly creative, we embrace difference and we want you to join in our mission, to make the world safer and more secure.

Learn more about NCC Group: https://www.nccgroup.com/uk/

The Opportunity

We’re seeking a commercially savvy and strategically minded Senior Category Manager to lead global sourcing of Technology Services across both internal (OPEX) and external (COGS) spend. In this pivotal role, you will define and drive a dual-focused category strategy—delivering value to internal stakeholders through smart investments in enabling technologies, while simultaneously ensuring robust, cost-effective service delivery for client-facing solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own the global category strategy for Technology Services, covering both internal IT project spend (OPEX) and external delivery-related services (COGS). There will also be CAPEX spend to manage and advise on.
• Manage sourcing and commercial negotiations for a wide array of services including consulting, managed services, cloud platforms, and integration partners
• Collaborate with finance and business leaders to align category strategies with global budgetary, compliance, and go-to-market priorities
• Balance innovation and cost-efficiency in selecting vendors that support transformation and scalability, internally and externally
• Lead supplier performance and risk management efforts across a portfolio of strategic partners
• Support COGS-related sourcing by partnering with sales, delivery, and solution teams to align commercial terms with client contracts
• Drive continuous improvement, service quality, and value delivery across both spend domains
• Access innovation in the markets and be the subject matter expert in the business for technology commercials.
• Develop strategic partnerships for win/win outcomes and manage supply chain risk, with business continuity and mitigation plans.

Qualifications and Skills

• Proven experience in procurement or category management, with demonstrated ownership of both OPEX and COGS categories.
• Deep understanding of global technology services markets and vendor ecosystems.
• Demonstrable experience creating and delivering Supplier Relationship Management programmes with tangible outcomes.
• Strong negotiation and cost management experience, driving tangible value through revenue enablement, gross margin expansion and net profit improvement.
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to influence both internal IT leaders and external delivery stakeholders.
• Experience supporting client commercial models (e.g., pass-through costs, rate cards) preferred.
• Highly collaborative with excellent communication, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Degree in Business, Technology, or related discipline; Procurement certifications a plus.

Behaviours

• Focusing on Clients and Customers
• Working as One NCC
• Being Inclusive and Respectful
• Always Learning
• Delivers Brilliantly

What we offer in return

• Flexible Working: Balance your work and personal life with our flexible working options.
• Generous Holiday Allowance: 25 days of holiday, plus bank holidays, with the option to buy up to 5 additional days of annual leave.
• Medicash & Critical Illness Scheme
• Financial & Investment Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance, and Share Save Scheme.
• Community & Volunteering Programmes: Volunteering opportunities.
• Green Car Scheme: Drive green and save money with our eco-friendly car scheme.
• Cycle Scheme: Stay fit and healthy with our cycle-to-work scheme.
• Special Time Off: Time off for major life moments (marriage/partnership, becoming a grandparent, welcoming home a new pet).
• Family Planning: Maternity and paternity leave, plus support for fertility treatments.

About NCC Group

The NCC Group family has over 2,200 members located around the world, providing a trusted advisory service to 15,000 customers. Born in the UK, we now have offices in North America, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific and United Arab Emirates.

We are passionate about helping our customers protect their brand, value and reputation against the ever-evolving threat landscape. We fuel that passion with investment in our people and our business.

Our values and code of ethics are at the heart of how we operate – we work together, we are brilliantly creative and we embrace difference. We treat everyone and everything with equal respect.

We want to create an environment where all colleagues feel psychologically, emotionally and physically safe to be authentic, sharing their personal experiences to represent the diversity of the world they live in, and have equal opportunity to achieve their best.

About your application

We review every application received and will get in touch if your skills and experience match what we’re looking for. If you don’t hear back from us within 10 days, please don’t be too disappointed – we may keep your CV on our database for any future vacancies and we would encourage you to keep an eye on our career opportunities as there may be other suitable roles.

If you do not want us to retain your details, please email [e-mail]. All personal data is held in accordance with the NCC Group Privacy Policy. We are committed to diversity and flexibility in the workplace. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the application process, please tell us at any stage.

Please note that this role involves mandatory pre-employment background checks due to the nature of the work NCC Group does. To apply, you must be willing and able to undergo the vetting process. This role being advertised will be subject to BS7858 screening as a mandatory requirement.