Senior IT Category MAnager

Planet Payment, Inc.; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in the UK is seeking a Senior IT Category Manager to build and transform IT procurement. You will enhance sourcing strategies to align with business priorities while driving negotiations and contract management across IT services. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in procurement with a strong emphasis on optimizing vendor performance and reducing costs. This role offers opportunities for professional growth and impactful contributions to IT initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in procurement or management consulting with a strong track record.
• Experienced in leading complex, high-value negotiations.
• Skilled in rationalizing IT supplier bases through data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Drive complex negotiations and contract management across IT categories.
• Optimize commercial arrangements with technology vendors.
• Develop and execute IT category strategies aligned with technology roadmaps.

Skills

Procurement management

Negotiation

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Contract management

Risk management

Tools

Power BI

Job description

As a Senior IT Category Manager, you will be responsible for building and transforming the IT procurement category, establishing best‑in‑class processes, and delivering a step‑change in value and performance. You will act as a strategic partner to the CTO and IT leadership teams, including Infrastructure, ITSM, Security, Applications, and Architecture, ensuring sourcing strategies align with technology roadmaps, risk posture, and business priorities.

Responsibilities

• Drive complex negotiations and contract management to secure competitive outcomes and minimize risk across IT categories (hardware, software, cloud, and services).
• Rebaseline and renegotiate commercial terms with major onshore and offshore service providers, eliminating cost leakages and improving delivery value.
• Optimize commercial arrangements with leading technology vendors across licensing, subscriptions, cloud consumption, and support services.
• Partner with Legal, Security, and Finance to ensure robust risk management, compliance with governance standards, and contract lifecycle discipline (renewals, notice periods, and terminations).
• Identify and implement cost‑saving opportunities through strategic sourcing, supplier leverage, demand management, and process optimization to support IT budget efficiency.
• Own the IT procurement strategy and execution, accountable for measurable improvements in cost, quality, and supplier performance.
• Develop and execute IT category strategies aligned with technology roadmaps and innovation priorities, enabling scalable, secure, and cost‑effective solutions.
• Rationalize and optimize the IT supplier portfolio using data‑driven insights to consolidate spend, reduce complexity, and improve governance and service levels.
• Establish a strategic supplier panel, SRM framework, and performance scorecards to drive continuous improvement and partnership value.
• Lead the redesign and continuous improvement of IT procurement processes, leveraging best practices and automation to increase efficiency and compliance.
• Ensure end‑to‑end process discipline across requisition‑to‑contract‑to‑invoice, enforcing policy controls (e.g., No PO, No Pay) and audit‑ready documentation.
• Monitor supplier performance, contractual obligations, SLAs, and KPIs; implement corrective actions and improvement plans where required.
• Support sustainability objectives by embedding responsible sourcing criteria and efficient consumption practices in IT deals.
• Work closely with the CTO and IT leadership teams (Infrastructure, ITSM, Security, Applications, Data) to align sourcing strategies with technology needs and business outcomes.
• Proactively engage stakeholders to understand requirements, influence decision‑making, and ensure early involvement of Procurement in IT initiatives and renewals.
• Represent Procurement across the organization, promoting its strategic value and fostering collaborative, outcomes‑focused relationships.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in procurement or management consulting with a strong track record across hardware, software, cloud, and IT services; combines strategic insight with hands‑on execution.
• Experienced in leading complex, high‑value negotiations to secure favorable terms, deliver measurable savings, and maintain strong supplier relationships. Demonstrated success renegotiating multi‑million contracts with major offshore providers (e.g., TCS, Tech Mahindra) and leading global technology vendors (e.g., Microsoft, Amazon).
• Highly organized; applies a structured, project‑based approach to procurement initiatives and IT sourcing programs in dynamic environments.
• Proficient with analytics tools (e.g., Power BI) to assess IT spend, identify addressable opportunities, and generate actionable insights; quantifies impact through savings and performance improvements.
• Skilled in rationalizing IT supplier bases through data analysis and strategic sourcing, contributing to cost reduction, operational efficiency, and improved governance.
• Deep understanding of procurement policy, IT governance, and risk management; ensures consistent adherence across all IT procurement activities.
• Passionate about technology, AI, and process improvement; continuously seeks innovative ways to optimize IT procurement workflows and efficiency.
• Empathetic, cross‑functional collaborator; comfortable presenting to leadership (including CTO and IT executives) and building strong relationships to align procurement with technology needs.
• Open to feedback and committed to professional growth; embraces change and contributes to the evolution of IT procurement practices.
• Understands procurement's role as a strategic enabler; approaches work with a collaborative, stakeholder‑focused mindset.

About Planet

Planet is a leading technology company transforming payments by putting customer experience first. We offer integrated solutions that include payment processing, VAT refunds, dynamic currency conversion, and management services for merchants in the Retail and Hospitality sectors worldwide.

In recent years, we have experienced significant growth, expanding our services and global presence. With strong private equity investors, Advent International and Eurazeo, we have the financial capital and expertise to grow our capabilities and reach through acquisitions. Our mission is to create a world of connected commerce where payments are simple, secure, and seamless, enabling our partners to deliver exceptional experiences to their customers.