Senior Category Manager - IT (Cloud and Infrastructure)

SSE PLC; Havant; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Flexible first options

Private healthcare discounts

Gym memberships

Cycle to Work scheme

Maternity & adoption pay

Job summary

SSE plc is seeking a Senior Category Manager - IT Cloud & Infrastructure to lead the commercial strategy for a major technology portfolio. You will shape investment decisions, manage supplier relationships, and drive value across cloud, hosting, compute, storage and infrastructure services.

The role reports to the Head of Procurement for IT & Telco and requires influencing senior leaders, managing cross-functional teams, and delivering sustained commercial outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven record of owning enterprise IT category strategies across Cloud/Infrastructure in a large organisation.
• Experience leading high-value sourcing and negotiations with global technology providers.
• Deep expertise in cloud economics, hyperscaler contracts and cost optimisation.
• Ability to shape investment decisions and supplier strategies across complex tech environments.
• Strong commercial, contractual and risk management skills.
• Executive presence with influence over senior leaders and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the multi-year commercial strategy for IT Cloud & Infrastructure, aligned to SSE's priorities.
• Direct complex, high-value sourcing and negotiations, establishing commercial models that optimise value and risk.
• Provide authoritative commercial counsel to senior stakeholders, translating market and technology complexity into clear strategic choices.
• Set the agenda with key global technology providers, strengthening executive relationships and driving performance and competitive tension.
• Translate spend, demand and market intelligence into a prioritised pipeline of cost optimisation and value creation.
• Maintain executive oversight of portfolio performance and governance, reporting to the Head of Procurement for IT & Telco.

Skills

Cloud & infrastructure

Sourcing negotiations

Executive stakeholder management

Cloud economics

Vendor management

Leadership

Education

CIPS or equivalent qualification

Job description

Base Location: You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in our Havant, Reading, Glasgow or Perth office

Salary: £59,800 - £89,800 + performance-related bonus + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available

The role

This role leads the commercial strategy for one of SSE's most significant technology portfolios. As Senior Category Manager - IT Cloud & Infrastructure, you will shape enterprise investment and supplier decisions across Cloud, Hosting, Compute, Storage and Infrastructure services. Partnering with senior leaders across Technology, Security, Architecture, Finance and Group Technology Services, you will set category direction, lead critical commercial engagements and ensure the portfolio delivers sustained value, resilience and strategic advantage. The role offers significant scope to influence SSE's transformation agenda and the continued development of procurement as a high-performing strategic function.

Key accountabilities

• Define and execute the multi-year commercial strategy for IT Cloud & Infrastructure, aligned to SSE's enterprise, technology, security and regulatory priorities.
• Direct complex, high-value sourcing and negotiations, establishing commercial models that optimise value, resilience, flexibility and risk.
• Provide authoritative commercial counsel to senior stakeholders, converting market and technology complexity into clear strategic choices and investment decisions.
• Set the agenda with key global technology providers, strengthening executive relationships and driving performance, innovation and competitive tension.
• Translate spend, demand and market intelligence into a prioritised pipeline of cost optimisation, value creation and risk reduction initiatives.
• Maintain executive oversight of portfolio performance, governance and exposure, providing clear insight and recommendations to the Head of Procurement for IT & Telco.

What you'll bring

• A substantial record of owning and delivering enterprise-scale IT category strategies across Cloud, Hosting, Infrastructure or Data Centre services within a large, complex organisation.
• Demonstrable success in leading high-value, business-critical sourcing and negotiations with major global technology providers, delivering material and measurable commercial outcomes.
• Deep expertise in cloud economics and contracting, including hyperscaler commercial models, consumption-based pricing, commitments and reservations, marketplace procurement, licensing dependencies and cost optimisation.
• Proven ability to shape investment decisions, supplier strategies and commercial operating models across complex, multi-stakeholder technology environments.
• Strong command of commercial, contractual, operational and concentration risk, with the judgement to balance value, resilience, flexibility and long-term strategic outcomes.
• Executive presence and credibility, with experience influencing senior leaders, constructively challenging established positions and presenting clear, evidence-based recommendations.
• A decisive and collaborative leadership style, with the ability to mobilise cross-functional teams across Procurement, Technology, Finance, Legal, Security and Architecture.
• CIPS or an equivalent professional qualification is desirable; experience in a regulated, critical-infrastructure or asset-intensive sector would be advantageous.

About SSE

SSE's purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our Transforming for Growth investment plan sees us investing £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030.

Our Procurement & Commercial teams help us get the best service and value from partners, while ensuring suppliers meet compliance, contractual and business obligations.

Flexible benefits to fit your life

Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest-free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact [e-mail] / 01738344763 to discuss how we can support you.

We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.

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