IT Category Manager

About the role

We are seeking an experienced IT Category Manager to lead strategic sourcing and category management across our IT portfolio. You will shape category strategies, manage key supplier relationships and deliver commercial value through effective procurement and contract management. This role offers the chance to influence business decisions and drive continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and continuously improve procurement best practices across the full procurement lifecycle.
• Lead commercial activities across the sourcing lifecycle, maximising value and minimising total cost of ownership.
• Manage strategic IT category spend, aligning procurement with business objectives and risk management.
• Develop and implement category and demand strategies based on stakeholder and business requirements.
• Collaborate with business leaders to reduce costs through standardisation, aggregation, and tail spend reduction.
• Build trusted relationships with internal stakeholders and suppliers, influencing at senior levels.
• Deliver excellent customer service through clear, proactive communication with internal and external partners.
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
• Ensure compliance with procurement regulations, statutory obligations, and data protection requirements.
• Embed health, safety, and wellbeing principles into sourcing strategies and supplier selection.

Required profile

• Ability to analyse and present complex commercial/contractual data to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple workstreams.
• Solid negotiation, influencing and resolution skills.
• Outstanding communication and customer‑service ethic with strong stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Self‑starter – resilient and tenacious under pressure with a willingness to develop skills.
• Knowledge of the water industry and/or IT category specific supply chain (desirable).
• Experience of strategic sourcing in a multi‑stakeholder environment and working within multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Track record in delivering against stretching targets.

Required skills

What we offer

• Hybrid working (2‑3 days on‑site per week).
• Competitive salary up to £66,000 per annum.
• Bonus scheme.
• Excellent pension scheme.