IT Category Manager

A leading global insurance business has a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Category Manager (IT & Professional Services) to join their EMEA Procurement team. This role can be based in either their London or Glasgow office and will report directly to the Head of Procurement for EMEA.

As a Category Manager you will specialise in IT and Professional services. You will have a crucial role in supporting the EMEA Procurement function by overseeing effective procurement procedures and achieving additional cost savings across the region. You will be responsible for evaluating and assessing spend categories, challenging existing methods, and implementing efficient procurement strategies and resources. This role requires a deep understanding of IT infrastructure, software, hardware, and emerging technologies, along with excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.

Category Management Review:

• For the categories within their responsibility and under control, to be responsible for and work alongside the internal stakeholder / budget holder, to:
• Manage the category through documenting contract key provisions to enable on-going due diligence checks.
• Regular benchmarking of current contract rates against the market rates.
• Ensure the categories’ key suppliers’ performance, spend is optimised and risks appropriately managed.

Vendor/Contract Management:

Where some contracts are handled by European Procurement function, you are required to ensure that existing contracted suppliers continue to meet the contract’s requirements, this includes:

• Conducting regular monitoring of contract SLAs & KPIs
• Advising internal users on how to purchase from the suppliers.
• Resolving contractual queries and regular contract reviews 

Management of Request for Proposals (RFPs):

• Manages RFPs processes for one-off RFPs for low to medium/complexities and /or for your categories of spend, where you will be required to work with internal stakeholders and budget holders to develop appropriate sourcing strategies, and where required draft the RFPs. 
• Guiding stakeholders through the existing procurement process.
• Formulate market and supplier analyses that identify emerging trends and facilitate strategy development.
• New Program Implementation:
• Assisting with the roll-out of specific projects as required, for example PO systems, Vendor Management systems etc. This includes: Working with the internal project team to identify initiatives – process improvements, new systems.
• Advise on the how to scope the project for elements that impact on procurement.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of IT procurement processes, category management principles, and sourcing best practices
• A commercial acumen with proven experience of delivering savings.
• Stakeholder management experience
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Ability to operate in a greenfield environment and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Experience influencing internal customers in non-mandated environment.