Strategic Sourcing Category Lead — Hybrid Role

Rsa; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual discretionary bonus

Up to 11% pension contributions

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave + bank holidays +

buy/sell options

Health & wellbeing + virtual GP

Career development and mentoring

Inclusive culture + employee networks

Share investment options

Job summary

Intact Insurance (formerly RSA) in Chelmsford seeks a Category Lead to drive end-to-end sourcing across multiple categories within the Sourcing Centre of Excellence. You will manage supplier interactions, ensure governance, and deliver sourcing activity at pace with compliant frameworks.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, robust documentation, and a focus on ESG and responsible sourcing while supporting business needs and timelines.

Qualifications

• Experience in a procurement or commercial role, ideally within a complex or regulated organisational environment.
• Practical experience running sourcing activity such as RFQs, mini-tenders or competitive supplier evaluations.
• Ability to operate across multiple categories and adapt quickly to different sourcing requirements.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to manage documentation and governance requirements confidently.
• Good commercial awareness and structured approach to supplier evaluation and decision-making.
• Confident communicator, able to engage professionally with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Sound judgement to recognise when issues, risks or exceptions require escalation.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple activities in parallel.

Responsibilities

• Deliver sourcing execution across multiple categories, including RFQs and mini-tenders within approved frameworks and thresholds.
• Manage end-to-end sourcing activity for defined requirements, from supplier engagement through to award recommendation and handover.
• Ensure all sourcing activity is conducted in line with procurement policies, templates, controls and governance standards.
• Maintain strong pace, consistency and quality of delivery, meeting agreed timelines and service expectations.
• Prepare and maintain clear, accurate sourcing documentation, including supplier communications, evaluation records and audit trails.
• Work closely with colleagues, escalating complex, higher-risk or out-of-scope initiatives appropriately.
• Engage with internal stakeholders to clarify requirements, timelines and sourcing routes within defined guardrails.
• Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline sourcing activity and improve cycle times.
• Use sourcing tools and systems effectively, ensuring accurate data capture and compliance with reporting requirements.
• Apply ESG, sustainability and responsible sourcing requirements as defined in procurement frameworks.

Skills

Procurement experience

Sourcing execution

RFQs and mini-tenders

Cross-functional collaboration

Governance & documentation

Stakeholder engagement

Commercial awareness

Analytical decision-making

Attention to detail

Multi-category sourcing

Job description

Intact Insurance (formerly RSA) in Chelmsford seeks a Category Lead to drive end-to-end sourcing across multiple categories within the Sourcing Centre of Excellence. You will manage supplier interactions, ensure governance, and deliver sourcing activity at pace with compliant frameworks.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, robust documentation, and a focus on ESG and responsible sourcing while supporting business needs and timelines.