Category Manager - Professional Services

Overview

Category Manager - Professional Services.

Location:

Birmingham, London or Edinburgh. Job Type: Permanent. Flexible working: part-time, job-share and other types of flexibility available; details discussed during recruitment. Closing Date: 10 January. Salary and benefits: £60,000 - £87,800 plus 16% bonus up to 32%, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, pension, life assurance (12x salary), career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and more.

The role holder will manage the sourcing of all Professional Services (e.g., Consultancy and Legal Services), develop robust sourcing strategies to increase profitability and maintain a competitive market position. Responsibilities include supplier negotiation, category analysis, supplier and commercial management, and cross-functional team leadership to meet or exceed financial targets.

• Category Strategy Development:
  Develop and implement strategic procurement plans aligned with category objectives and organisational goals.
• Supplier selection and management: identify, assess and commercially manage end-to-end relationships with Tier 1, Tier 2 and other material suppliers to ensure delivery of high-quality services and products at competitive pricing.
• Sourcing and Negotiation:
  Lead the sourcing process for significant exercises; negotiate contracts and manage supplier performance to achieve cost savings and mitigate risks.
• Cost optimisation:
  Implement cost optimisation strategies including demand management, volume consolidation, and process efficiencies to drive savings and profitability.
• Risk Management:
  
  Identify and mitigate risks in sourcing activities, including regulatory and contractual changes, ESG standards, supplier and contract risks, and business continuity.
• Business Partnering:
  Collaborate with internal stakeholders (Finance, Legal, Risk, Business Unit Executives) to understand needs and provide strategic guidance.
• Continuous Improvement:
  Drive improvement initiatives across procurement and third-party management best practices for Consultancy and Legal services and Temporary staffing.
• Performance Measurement:
  Establish KPIs, monitor team performance, track savings and identify areas for improvement.

• Masters or Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management or related field.
• Membership of CIPS (ideally MCIPS) or other relevant accreditation.
• Proven experience in procurement, strategic sourcing or supply chain management with a focus on financial services.
• Current knowledge of the Professional Services and Temp Staffing supply market.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing procurement strategies, driving cost savings, and managing supplier relationships.
• Experience joining a Professional Services & Temporary Staffing Procurement team at category manager level.

This is more than a role. It’s an opportunity to be part of an organisation that values people, reshapes engagement with strategic suppliers, drives commercial value, and empowers teams through self-service and agile procurement models.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. If you require adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.

We’re reviewing applications as they come in, so apply early to avoid missing out.

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