Category Manager – Technology Procurement (12 month FTC), Belfast
HybridBelfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Job Summary
Develop and implement a three-year rolling Technology Category Sourcing Strategy, including supplier segmentation, consolidation, and strategic levers. Define category plans to deliver commercial value in cost, performance, and risk while managing complex, high-value contract negotiations with suppliers. Build strong relationships with technology, business, and finance stakeholders to provide market insights and support strategic initiatives like transformation and continuous improvement. Ensure timely completion of Third-Party Risk Management activities, maintain up-to-date contract repositories, and manage supplier onboarding and offboarding processes. Lead governance forums and develop metrics to track category performance and commercial outcomes.
Required Qualifications
- Proven experience operating within a strategic procurement, category management or sourcing function
- Demonstrable experience managing Technology spend categories, including one or more of the following: Software, SaaS, Infrastructure, Cloud Services, Telecommunications, Managed Services or IT Professional Services
- Experience leading end-to-end sourcing activities, including supplier selection, competitive tendering, negotiations and contract award
- Proven commercial negotiation and contract management skills, with the ability to deliver measurable value through cost optimisation, risk reduction and service improvements
- Experience developing and executing category plans or procurement strategies aligned to business objectives
- Demonstrated stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders across Technology, Finance and Business functions
- Experience managing supplier relationships and evaluating supplier performance, capability and commercial value
- Solid analytical skills with the ability to interpret spend data, market intelligence and supplier insights to support decision making
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present recommendations and commercial outcomes to senior stakeholders
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver outcomes within a fast-paced and evolving environment
- Professional procurement qualification (MCIPS or equivalent)
Desired Qualifications
- Experience managing Software Licensing, SaaS, Cloud Infrastructure or IT Outsourcing categories in a complex enterprise environment
- Experience within Financial Services, Capital Markets, Professional Services or another regulated industry
- Knowledge of cloud commercial models, FinOps principles and cloud cost optimisation initiatives
- Experience with Third-Party Risk Management, supplier governance and regulatory requirements relating to external suppliers
- Familiarity with technology-related contracts, including software licensing, SaaS agreements, managed services and professional services contracts
- Experience supporting procurement transformation, process improvement or operating model enhancement initiatives
- Experience working within a global procurement function supporting international stakeholders and suppliers
- Experience using procurement, contract lifecycle management and supplier management platforms
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