Category Manager

The Role:

The Procurement Category Manager – IT & Data is responsible for the end‑to‑end category management, sourcing, and supplier oversight of all IT and Data-related spend across the organisation. This includes software, cloud, infrastructure, managed services, telecoms, cyber security, professional services, and data platforms/services.

The role partners closely with Technology and Data leadership to deliver commercial value, risk management, and supplier performance, while ensuring procurement activity aligns with governance, regulatory, and policy requirements.

This is a hybrid role, working 2-3 days a week from our Manchester city centre office.

Responsibilities will include:

Category Strategy & Leadership

• Own and deliver a comprehensive IT & Data category strategy, covering:  
  • Software (on prem, SaaS, subscriptions)
  • Cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
  • Infrastructure and end-user compute
  • Managed services and systems integration
  • Telecoms and networking
  • Cyber and information security services
  • Data platforms, analytics, and external data services
• Conduct market analysis, demand planning, and spend analysis to identify savings, efficiency, and risk reduction opportunities.
• Align sourcing strategies with IT and Data roadmaps, architectural standards, and transformation initiatives.

Sourcing & Commercial Execution

• Lead end to end sourcing activities using Workday Strategic Sourcing, including RFI/RFP/RFQ processes, bid evaluation, negotiation, and award.
• Deliver robust commercial outcomes across new contracts, renewals, and extensions.
• Develop and negotiate fit-for-purpose commercial models, including outcome-based pricing, consumption models, and licensing optimisation.
• Ensure sourcing decisions balance cost, service quality, resilience, security, and scalability.

Contracting & Contract Intelligence

• Work closely with Legal and stakeholders to ensure contracts reflect agreed commercial, service, risk, and compliance requirements.
• Leverage Evisort Contract Intelligence to:  
  • Improve visibility of IT & Data contracts, terms, and obligations
  • Manage renewal and termination timelines
  • Identify commercial and risk insights (e.g. auto-renewals, pricing clauses, audit rights)
  • Reduce value leakage through proactive contract and renewal management.

Supplier & Performance Management

• Segment and manage strategic and critical IT & Data suppliers.
• Establish KPIs, SLAs, and governance forums (e.g. QBRs, service reviews).
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and performance remediation where required.
• Coordinate closely with IT service management, cyber, and data teams on supplier performance and issue resolution.

Risk, Governance & Compliance

• Ensure all IT & Data procurement activity complies with internal policies and governance frameworks.
• Embed third-party risk and security considerations into sourcing and contract management.
• Support material outsourcing / critical supplier assessments where applicable.
• Partner with Risk, Compliance, InfoSec, and Data Protection functions to ensure suppliers meet regulatory, security, and data requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnering

• Act as the primary procurement partner for IT and Data stakeholders (e.g. CIO, CDO, CISO, infrastructure, architecture).
• Provide clear, pragmatic procurement advice on sourcing routes, commercial options, and supplier strategy.
• Influence senior stakeholders while maintaining challenge and independence as a professional procurement advisor.

MI, Benefits Tracking & Continuous Improvement

• Track and report category performance, including savings, cost avoidance, pipeline delivery, and supplier performance.
• Maintain accurate procurement MI through Workday and other procurement systems.
• Continuously improve IT & Data procurement processes, templates, and playbooks.
• Support capability uplift across procurement through knowledge sharing and mentoring.

Key Interfaces

Internal: IT Leadership, Data & Analytics Teams, Cyber & InfoSec, Finance, Legal, Risk, Compliance, Architecture, PMO.

External: Technology vendors, cloud providers, software publishers and resellers, system integrators, managed service providers, data providers, consultants. 

 Skills and Experience

• Proven experience as a Procurement Category Manager or IT Procurement Manager, managing complex technology categories.
• Strong practical understanding of:
• Software licensing and SaaS models
• Cloud and managed services
• Infrastructure, telecoms, and cyber services
• Data platforms and third-party data services
• Demonstrable commercial and negotiation capability with complex contracts.
• Hands-on experience using Workday Strategic Sourcing for sourcing and pipeline management.
• Experience using Evisort (or similar contract intelligence tools) for contract visibility and insight.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing senior technology stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills (spend analysis, TCO, benchmarking, benefits tracking).

Desirable

• Experience in regulated industries (financial services, insurance, London Market).
• Knowledge of third-party risk, operational resilience, and outsourcing governance.
• Experience embedding procurement governance without slowing delivery.
• CIPS qualification (Level 4+).