Category Manager (IT & Pro Services) - £80K

Our client, a leading Technology Organisation, with a track-record of embracing innovation and creativity, seeks to recruit a Category Manager with extensive IT & Professional Services category experience. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead the development of IT & Professional Services procurement strategy in a 'greenfield' organisation, embracing the value proposition of a newly created Procurement function.

Role:

The jobholder will lead the development of IT & Professional Services sourcing strategy across all business units within a complex Global business model. In turn, you will manage all associated commercial sourcing activity to drive value creation and minimise total cost of ownership. Furthermore, you will be responsible for the full sourcing life cycle from initial strategy, tendering, and contract award through to transition, contract management and termination.

Accountabilities:

• Responsible for translating innovation and ideas into comprehensive proposals, formulating presentations and reports to influence senior stakeholders
• Lead the strategic sourcing process, providing direction and oversight to leverage the size and scale of the Group's purchasing power through robust contract negotiations, supplier selection and management of the commercial aspects of the 3rd party supplier relationships
• Work collaboratively with the Supplier Management teams to develop and implement the appropriate supplier governance structure ensuring effective contract handover and ongoing development of the supplier strategy
• Report and track financial benefits versus pipeline and targets, identifying potential risks
• Compliance to all sourcing policies, procedures and systems providing an efficient and auditable sourcing trail that will ensure robust risk management

Experience:

The ideal candidate will present a broad IT & Professional Services Procurement background:

• Experience of managing and developing IT and/or Professional Services Sourcing strategies in an international environment
• Excellent track record of challenging and influencing IT stakeholders
• Experience of developing supplier management strategy
• Expert negotiation and influencing skills
• Excellent analytical and organisational skills
• Excellent academic pedigree