Procurement Category Manager

About the role

Our projects are more than just your opportunity to make your mark. They’re an opportunity to stretch, test and develop your expertise. Join Balfour Beatty as an IT Procurement Category Manager and you’ll deliver complex work that really matters to our business, and the world around you.

The successful candidate can be based from a number of our UK main hubs including London, Basingstoke, Newcastle and Motherwell.

As a Category Manager, you will take ownership of the procurement and strategic management of IT services across the organisation. This is a key role requiring strong commercial awareness, a thorough understanding of IT supply markets, and the ability to build effective relationships with both suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Working closely with business leaders and key stakeholders, you will identify requirements, provide expert procurement guidance, and lead sourcing activities that deliver value, manage risk, and support organisational objectives. You will ensure robust procurement processes and due diligence are undertaken to establish and maintain a high-performing supply chain.

• Develop and deliver a category strategy that supports business objectives, stakeholder requirements and sustainability goals.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities through the eProcurement platform, ensuring procurement exercises align with category plans and business needs.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation, providing procurement expertise and ensuring appropriate engagement in all sourcing and supplier-related activities.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and contracts with suppliers in line with Group policies, governance requirements and stakeholder expectations.
• Drive effective Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices, establishing clear performance measures, governance frameworks and continuous improvement initiatives. This includes managing supplier performance improvement plans where required.
• Ensure suppliers operate in compliance with all relevant legal, regulatory and ethical standards, while consistently delivering high levels of quality and service.
• Develop, implement and maintain a preferred supplier framework that supports the overall category strategy and promotes procurement compliance across all Strategic Business Units.
• Provide clear, timely and effective communication on procurement activities, category developments and supplier performance to key stakeholders.
• Monitor market trends, emerging technologies and supplier capabilities to identify opportunities for innovation, value creation and risk mitigation.

Qualifications & Experience

• 3+ years experience in procurement and category management, with at least 3-5 years' experience within an IT procurement environment is absolutely essential.
• Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management or a related discipline is desirable.
• CIPS qualified, studying towards CIPS, or holding an equivalent professional qualification is desirable.
• Demonstrable experience leading end-to-end sourcing, tendering and supplier selection activities.
• Strong experience reviewing, negotiating and managing commercial agreements, including terms and conditions.
• Sound understanding of procurement best practice, market trends, supplier management and relevant regulations.
• Experience building and maintaining effective supplier relationships and driving supplier performance.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and procurement/eProcurement systems.

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels of the business.
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills, with a track record of delivering successful outcomes.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly analytical, with strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Confident facilitating discussions, driving consensus and ensuring key decisions are made.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to work to deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Comfortable working with…