Senior Category Manager

Procurement People; Reading; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a major organization as a Digital Senior Category Manager, leading procurement across Cybersecurity and Telecoms. This pivotal role involves developing sourcing strategies and managing supplier relationships to drive value and innovation in a digital transformation program.

Benefits

26 days of holiday (rising to 30 with service)

Private medical insurance

Generous pension contribution (up to 12%)

Annual health assessments

Access to a comprehensive benefits platform

Qualifications

• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and promoting best practices.
• Ability to manage high-value categories exceeding £100m in spend.

Responsibilities

• Oversee commercial functions related to Information Security and Networks.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive category plans for strategic priorities.
• Lead development of integrated category strategies for cost optimization.

Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Commercial Governance

Negotiation

Supplier Management

Category Management

Job description

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Principal Consultant for Procurement People part of the ENG Network

Digital Senior Category Manager

Hours: 36 hours per week

Our client, a major organisation undergoing digital transformation, is seeking a highly capable Digital Senior Category Manager to lead strategic procurement efforts across the Cybersecurity, Networks, and Telecoms space. This role plays a vital part in the commercial success of key digital initiatives, including high-impact technology programmes.

About the Role

The successful candidate will act as a subject matter expert for the digital category, developing and executing long-term sourcing strategies that align with the organisation’s future-focused vision. The role requires the ability to provide commercial leadership across complex projects and supplier relationships, ensuring that value creation, compliance, and innovation are central to procurement activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all commercial functions related to Information Security, Networks, and Telecoms suppliers, including contract negotiations, renewals, and new sourcing initiatives.
• Work closely with stakeholders to offer expert procurement advice and embed robust commercial practices across the organisation.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive category plans that support both strategic priorities and operational delivery.
• Manage a diverse supplier portfolio, ensuring continuous performance improvement and value delivery throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Lead the development of integrated category strategies, identifying opportunities for cost optimisation, risk reduction, and supplier innovation.
• Deliver market intelligence and supply chain insights to guide decision-making and improve commercial outcomes.
• Serve as the go-to commercial advisor for the category, enabling the business to respond effectively to market shifts and challenges.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Demonstrable experience influencing senior stakeholders and promoting best practice commercial governance.
• Strong ability to juggle multiple priorities and projects within a fast-paced digital procurement environment.
• Deep understanding of digital commercial models, particularly those involving software procurement and project-based delivery.
• In-depth knowledge of the supplier landscape and market dynamics, including awareness of emerging trends and innovations.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with a proven ability to build strong relationships and drive collaboration.
• A track record of implementing successful category management strategies across diverse procurement areas.
• The ability to provide strategic insight into supplier markets, regulatory considerations, and technological advancements.
• Proven capability in managing high-value, high-risk categories, often exceeding £100m in spend.
• Skilled in negotiating contractual and commercial terms while managing supply chain risk and ensuring resilience.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is a pivotal time to join our client as they embark on a significant digital transformation programme. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the commercial direction of critical digital infrastructure.

Benefits Include:

• 26 days of holiday (rising to 30 with service), plus bank holidays
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension contribution (up to 12%)
• Annual health assessments
• Access to a comprehensive benefits platform supporting wellbeing and financial savings

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Purchasing and Supply Chain

• Industries

  Utilities, Air, Water, and Waste Program Management, and Water, Waste, Steam, and Air Conditioning Services

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