Job Title: Senior IT Services Category Manager
Location: Farnborough (3 days onsite per week)
Term: 6 Months
IR35: INSIDE
Day Rate: £DOE
I am seeking an experienced Senior IT Services Category Manager to lead the strategic management of a high-value IT Services portfolio within a dynamic, fast-paced organisation. With an overall IT & Technology spend of circa £100M, this role plays a critical part in shaping sourcing strategy, driving commercial value, and influencing senior stakeholders across the business.
This is a high-impact, commercially focused role suited to someone who thrives in ambiguity, can operate at pace, and is confident engaging at Director and CIO level.
The Role
As Senior IT Services Category Manager, you will take ownership of the IT Services category, driving strategy, sourcing, and supplier performance across a complex and evolving technology landscape.
You will:
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, ensuring early engagement and alignment to business priorities
- Develop and execute category strategies for IT Services, leveraging market insight and data to challenge the status quo and maximise value
- Lead complex sourcing activities including business case development, tendering, and negotiation of high-value, high-complexity contracts
- Draft procurement documentation, run competitive tenders, and present commercial proposals to senior audiences
- Identify and manage key risks across the category, including information security, IR35, supply resilience, financial and sustainability considerations
- Drive Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) to deliver performance, innovation, and long-term value from strategic partners
- Support transformation initiatives, including the transition from SAP Ariba to Oracle Fusion and the development of a mature Source-to-Pay (S2P) model
What We Are Looking For
We’re looking for a commercially astute procurement professional with strong stakeholder presence and the ability to influence at senior levels.
You will bring:
- Proven experience in IT / Technology category management, ideally within IT Services
- A strong track record of managing and influencing stakeholders up to Director and CIO level
- Experience operating in fast-paced, private sector environments
- Expertise in running end-to-end sourcing events, including tendering and complex contract negotiation
- The confidence to challenge stakeholders constructively and drive better commercial outcomes
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively
- Experience working within ambiguity and navigating evolving business priorities
Skills & Competencies
- Strategic thinking and commercial acumen
- Advanced stakeholder engagement and business partnering
- Strong negotiation and contracting expertise
- Supplier risk and performance management
- Ability to lead through change and transformation
- Collaborative mindset with cross-functional influence
Experience & Qualifications
- Degree qualified or equivalent experience
- MCIPS qualified (or working towards)
- Minimum 5+ years’ experience in strategic category management
- Demonstrable success in negotiating high-value contracts
- Experience with Source-to-Pay (S2P) systems and procurement technology