Category Manager - IT

Location: Lostock Hall

At Places for People, we hire People, not numbers! So, if you like the sound of one of our jobs, please apply - you could be just who we're looking for! Of course, experience and track record are important, but we're more interested in hiring someone that embodies our People Promises. That's someone that does the right thing, is enthusiastic and motivated to grow, believes in Community spirit, is respectful and enjoys their work.

As the UK's leading Social Enterprise we're dedicated to creating inclusive and thriving Communities for both our Customers and Employees. So, what are you waiting for? Join a community that cares about you! Are you ready to lead strategic procurement in the fast-moving world of technology? We're looking for a Category Manager – IT to drive value, efficiency, and innovation across our organisation.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape IT procurement strategies that deliver real impact. More about the role In this role, you'll take ownership of the IT category, developing and implementing strategies that align with organisational goals. You'll manage end-to-end procurement processes, ensuring compliance and delivering value for money. Leading and motivating a small team, you'll foster collaboration and continuous improvement while building strong relationships with stakeholders across IT, Finance, and Legal.

More About You You'll have experience in procurement, with a strong track record in category management and strategic sourcing. Your commercial acumen and negotiation skills will enable you to influence decisions and deliver value. Experience in managing and developing teams is essential, along with a deep understanding of IT markets and supplier capabilities. The essential Criteria Experience in procurement, with demonstrable experience in IT category management and strategic sourcing.

Strong commercial acumen with the ability to deliver value and influence business decisions. Skilled in developing and implementing category strategies, sourcing plans, and robust procurement recommendations in the IT category The benefits We are a large diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for. We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:
Competitive salary, with a salary review yearly Pension with matched contributions up to 7% Excellent holiday package – up to 35 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell leave Cashback plan for healthcare costs – up to £500 saving per year A bonus scheme for all colleagues at 2% Training and development Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more What's next?

If you meet the criteria and are ready to make the next step in your career then click apply. You will be redirected to our careers site where you can discover more about the role, read a full job description and apply directly to us. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we offer a guaranteed interview to candidates who are disabled, neurodiverse, or have served in the Armed Forces, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you would like to be considered under this scheme, please indicate this in your application. We are dedicated to creating a supportive and accessible recruitment process for all. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview experience, please let us know. We're happy to work with you to ensure you have the opportunity to perform at your best.

If you are a Places for People customer and you're looking for support with your application, please contact our skills and employment team on skillse . W e understand the importance of a supportive and inclusive work culture so please talk to us at interview about flexibility you may need. We can't promise to give you exactly what you want, but we promise not to judge you for asking.

For this role we are open to discussing the possibility of reduced hours, flexible start and finish…