Indirect Category Manager - Marketing, Professional Services

About The Role:

Indirect Category Manager Marketing, Professional Services & Recruitment

Role Overview Reporting to the Head of Indirect Procurement, the Indirect Category Manager is responsible for Group & UK procurement activity across Marketing, Professional Services and Recruitment, managing approximately 25m annual spend.

The role leads category strategy, strategic sourcing, supplier management, contract governance and commercial negotiations. Working closely with stakeholders, it supports business development, acquisitions, mobilisations, integrations and transformation programmes, ensuring Procurement influences commercial decisions, supplier solutions and cost models from the outset.

The position provides commercial leadership focused on cost optimisation, value creation, innovation, supplier performance and risk management. Success in the role requires strong market knowledge, commercial judgement, stakeholder influence and a hands-on approach to procurement delivery in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities Category & Procurement Leadership Develop and deliver 3-5 year category strategies aligned to business objectives and market trends.

Manage approximately 25m annual Group & UK spend across assigned categories.

Partner with senior stakeholders, providing procurement expertise and market insight.

Support business development, acquisitions, mobilisations and integrations, ensuring commercial and supplier considerations are addressed early.

Review supplier portfolios, contracts and commitments to identify consolidation, standardisation and cost-saving opportunities.

Lead market testing, benchmarking, supplier engagement and solution design activities.

Deliver end-to-end sourcing programmes, including market analysis, RFIs, RFPs, e-auctions, supplier evaluation, negotiation, contracting and award.

Deliver savings, cost avoidance and wider commercial value while balancing quality, service, innovation and risk.

Use market intelligence and benchmarking to challenge costs, validate proposals and identify opportunities.

Lead negotiations covering pricing, commercial models, contracts, service levels and risk allocation.

Develop strategic supplier relationships supported by effective KPI, SLA and governance frameworks.

Manage contract renewals and procurement pipelines to minimise unmanaged and reactive spend.

Drive supplier consolidation, standardisation, demand management and process improvement initiatives.

Collaborate with Marketing, HR, Finance, Legal and Operations to manage commercial and contractual risk.

Track and report category performance, savings, supplier performance, contract status and commercial risk.

Category Ownership Marketing Lead  procurement and commercial activity across:

Marketing agencies and creative services.

Branding, design, content and campaign delivery.

Media buying, digital marketing, social media and communications.

Print services.

Events, exhibitions, sponsorship, merchandise and promotional activities.

Recruitment Manage commercial activity across:

Permanent recruitment and recruitment support services.

Agency frameworks and PSL management.

Specialist search and workforce solutions.

Professional Services Lead procurement and commercial activity across:

Legal services.

Management consultancy.

Advisory, transformation and specialist professional services.

Alternative commercial models, including fixed-fee, capped-fee and outcome-based approaches.

Market Expertise & Commercial Focus Maintain current knowledge of market trends, supplier models and commercial drivers across marketing, recruitment and professional services. Apply market intelligence to category planning, budgeting, sourcing, acquisitions, business development and strategic decision-making.

Governance & Compliance Avoid conflicts of interest.

Exercise sound judgement, care, skill and diligence.

Act in good faith and support the long-term success of the UK & Ireland Group.

Promote compliance with policies relating to equality, diversity, information security, health & safety and data protection.

Support sustainability objectives and resource-efficient working practices.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience Essential Experience  in strategic procurement or category management, ideally across marketing, professional services and/or recruitment.

Experience managing significant indirect spend and complex stakeholder environments.

Proven success developing and delivering category strategies.

Experience leading sourcing activities, supplier evaluation,…