Senior Category Manager

Career Moves; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Moves and a leading global media and analytics organisation undergoing an exciting transformation are seeking a Senior Category Manager. You will shape procurement strategy across Data, Insights, Research and Technology services and partner with business leaders to deliver value in a fast-paced international environment.

You will develop category plans, lead end-to-end sourcing, manage supplier performance and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive cost reduction and procurement

Qualifications

• Extensive procurement and category management experience.
• Experience in indirect spend and strategic sourcing.
• Proven ability to negotiate complex supplier agreements.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience in matrix organisations across geographies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category strategies across a portfolio of indirect spend areas, ensuring commercial value, risk management and supplier performance objectives are achieved.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including requirements gathering, market analysis, supplier selection, negotiations, contract execution and onboarding.
• Identify opportunities to optimise spend, improve supplier relationships and enhance procurement effectiveness across assigned categories.
• Establish and maintain procurement processes, governance frameworks and sourcing plans to support business objectives.
• Build relationships with internal stakeholders, providing commercial guidance and ensuring procurement solutions meet operational needs.
• Drive cost reduction, value creation and efficiency initiatives through strategic sourcing and supplier optimisation.
• Support management of key supplier relationships, ensuring performance and commitments are delivered.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver procurement projects and business change initiatives.

Skills

Procurement experience

Category management

Indirect spend

Strategic sourcing

Contract negotiations

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Supplier performance management

MCIPS desirable

Education

Degree educated

MCIPS desirable

Job description

Career Moves are delighted to be partnering with a leading global media and analytics organisation undergoing an exciting period of transformation and growth.

Join a fast-paced international business as a Senior Category Manager, supporting key Technology and Operations spend areas. You'll partner with business leaders to deliver sourcing projects, shape category strategies, and optimise supplier performance across Data, Insights, Research and Technology services.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver category strategies across a portfolio of indirect spend areas, ensuring commercial value, risk management and supplier performance objectives are achieved.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including business requirements gathering, market analysis, supplier selection, commercial negotiations, contract execution and supplier onboarding.
• Identify opportunities to optimise spend, improve supplier relationships and enhance procurement effectiveness across assigned categories.
• Establish and maintain clear procurement processes, governance frameworks and sourcing plans to support business objectives.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, providing commercial guidance and ensuring procurement solutions meet operational needs.
• Drive cost reduction, value creation and efficiency initiatives through strategic sourcing, supplier optimisation and demand management activities.
• Support the management of key supplier relationships, ensuring performance, service levels and commercial commitments are effectively delivered.
• Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to deliver procurement projects and business change initiatives.

Skills & Experience Required

• Significant procurement and category management experience, ideally gained within a fast-paced, international environment.
• Proven experience managing indirect spend categories, with strong knowledge of strategic sourcing and supplier management.
• Demonstrable track record of developing category plans, implementing procurement best practice and delivering measurable commercial outcomes.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience negotiating complex supplier agreements and managing contractual risk.
• Ability to build credibility with stakeholders at all levels and influence decision-making across the organisation.
• Experience working within complex, matrix-style businesses and managing relationships across multiple functions and geographies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience interpreting spend data and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Understanding of supplier performance management, risk assessment and procurement governance principles.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and deliver results within challenging timescales.
• Degree educated and/or professionally qualified (MCIPS desirable).