Senior IT Category Manager

HIBL; City Of London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance group in London is seeking a Senior IT Category Manager to oversee sourcing processes within the IT category. You will be responsible for strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, and collaboration across departments while driving innovation and cost savings. Ideal candidates will have significant IT category management experience, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Proven track record of developing IT sourcing strategies.
• Excellent knowledge and experience of IT category management.
• Demonstrable ability of negotiating high value IT contracts.

Responsibilities

• Manage and optimize sourcing processes for the IT category.
• Collaborate with stakeholders including IT budget holders.
• Drive innovation and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Negotiate contracts and manage supplier relationships.

Skills

Collaborative mentality

Influencing and negotiation skills

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving abilities

Education

Degree level qualification

CIPS level 6 profession diploma

Tools

IT infrastructure knowledge

Software category management

Job description

Senior IT Category Manager page is loaded

Senior IT Category Manager

Apply locations London time type Full time posted on Posted 30+ Days Ago job requisition id R0011968

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Role Definition

The Senior IT Category Manager shall be responsible for managing and optimsing sourcing processes within the IT category. This includes strategic sourcing, contract negotiation cost optimization and ensuring alignment with organisational goals and IT requirements. The role will include collaborating with internal stakeholders including IT budget holders, Legal and Third Party Risk Management.

Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities

Category Strategy

• Support the development and execution of the sourcing strategy for the IT category.
• Ensure alignment with business objectives and the IT roadmap.
• Analyse market trends and supplier capabilities.
• Drive innovation and identify cost-saving opportunities.

Souring & Procurement

• Support sourcing activities including defining business needs, develop requirements, creation of business case.
• Develop IT category strategy and plan using analysis of market of vendors and solutions.
• Support contract owners with RFX activities.
• Negotiate contracts.

Risk Management

• Identify potential risks related to vendors.
• Develop and implement mitigation strategies to reduce exposure to business interruption.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across IT functions and the IT Vendor Manager.
• Collaborate with departments such as Legal and Third Party Risk Management.
• Collaborate with IT leadership to assess and forecast procurement requirements and implement the necessary resources.
• Work with budget owners to ensure transparency and visibility of group Procurement spend.

Skills and abilities needed to perform role

• A collaborative mentality and the ability to share success across other spend categories.
• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced dynamic environment managing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong commercial acumen;.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Knowledge and Experience

• Excellent knowledge and experience of IT category management including both IT infrastructure and software.
• Proven track record of developing IT sourcing strategies.
• Demonstrable ability of negotiating high value IT contracts.

Professional Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent through relevant experience
• CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) level 6 profession diploma or equivalent in experience

Compliance & Regulatory Responsibilities

• Meet all competency requirements by undertaking training and following agreed principles, policies, processes and procedures
• Identify and refer any actual or potential conflicts of interest
• Identify and refer any breaches, potential risks or non-compliance to line management

• Evidence that in all aspects of the business process priority is placed on treating customers fairly

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Permanent

About Us

Howden began in 1994, as just three people and a dog. Now there are 17,000 of us, and we're a leading global insurance group, managing $38bn of premiums for our clients.

Our largest shareholder group is us – the people who work in the business – supported by three long-term, minority growth-equity partners who share our vision to build a business to last, one that will never be sold.

The owner's mindset is something that's embedded in our culture; our people readily take ownership of their decisions, their actions, and their outputs. They’re invested in every sense. And we all know that by working together to drive the business forward, everyone will benefit from the extraordinary results we can achieve.