Senior Procurement Category Manager – Technology & IT
Your Consultant
Talent Drive are partnering with a leading global retailer as they continue to invest in their Technology Procurement capability.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Technology Procurement professional to join a business investing heavily in technology, digital transformation and innovation. With significant investment being made across technology and digital capabilities, you will play a key role in supporting a business that is evolving at pace and shaping the future of its Technology Procurement function. As a Senior Procurement Category Manager, you will take ownership of strategically important technology categories, leading the development and delivery of category strategies, major sourcing programmes and supplier performance frameworks.
You will be joining an organisation where procurement is viewed as a genuine strategic partner to the business. Working closely with senior technology stakeholders, you will act as the primary commercial lead across your portfolio, helping shape procurement strategies that balance business requirements, innovation, risk management, legal compliance and total cost of ownership.
This role offers full ownership, fast-paced delivery, senior leadership visibility and the opportunity to influence major technology decisions across a complex and evolving environment. In addition, you will lead and develop a team of Procurement Managers across both onshore and offshore locations, ensuring the successful delivery of procurement objectives and best practice.
This is a high-impact, strategic role where you will:
- Lead category strategy development across key technology spend areas, translating strategic plans into executable sourcing pipelines, supplier strategies and commercial frameworks.
- Act as a trusted commercial partner to senior stakeholders, building strong relationships and influencing decision-making at leadership level.
- Support annual planning, budgeting and forecasting activities across your category portfolio.
- Deliver strategic sourcing events, market assessments, commercial modelling and complex procurement initiatives.
- Lead large-scale negotiations, contracting activities and enterprise-wide cost optimisation programmes.
- Utilise benchmarking, spend analytics, usage data and total cost of ownership (TCO) modelling to drive informed commercial decisions.
- Track and report savings delivery, cost avoidance, efficiency gains and commercial risk reduction across the portfolio.
- Own strategic supplier relationships, driving performance, innovation and continuous improvement.
- Lead executive-level supplier reviews, governance forums and contractual escalations.
- Work closely with Legal, Security and Compliance teams to ensure suppliers meet required standards relating to cybersecurity, privacy, responsible AI and ethical sourcing.
- Provide leadership across complex sourcing projects, governance activities and commercial negotiations.
- Mentor and develop Procurement Managers, promoting best practice, capability development and continuous improvement across the team.
- Foster a collaborative, data-driven culture focused on delivering value and supporting business objectives.
What We’re Looking For:
- 7+ years’ experience within Technology Procurement, Category Management or Strategic Sourcing, including complex negotiation delivery and stakeholder management.
- Proven track record delivering strategic technology sourcing projects and commercial outcomes across complex spend portfolios.
- Strong experience developing category strategies and building multi-year category plans aligned to business objectives.
- Demonstrable success managing strategic supplier relationships and leading executive-level stakeholder engagement.
- Strong commercial acumen with expertise in sourcing, negotiations, contracting and value creation initiatives.
- Experience leveraging benchmarking, market intelligence, spend analysis, usage data and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) modelling to support decision-making.
- Strong understanding of sourcing best practices, supplier performance management and procurement governance frameworks.
- Experience using procurement technologies and tools including eSourcing platforms, contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems and procurement analytics.
- Excellent project, programme and stakeholder management capabilities.
- Ability to build credibility and influence senior management and leadership teams.
- Previous experience managing, mentoring or developing high-performing procurement professionals.
- Understanding of responsible procurement practices, sustainability frameworks and ethical technology sourcing.
- Strong reporting capabilities across sourcing projects, savings delivery, forecasting and governance activities.
- Experience operating within a complex, fast-paced and evolving business environment.
- MCIPS qualification desirable but not essential.
If you’re an experienced Technology Procurement leader looking for a role where you can shape category strategy, influence senior stakeholders and lead a high-performing team within a globally recognised business, this is an excellent opportunity to take the next step in your career.
Apply or send your CV directly to brad@talentdrive.co.uk
Talent Drive are committed to promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace. We review all applicants on equal merit and do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sex, relationship status, disability, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.