Hays
Procurement Category Manager - IT

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Your new company
We're looking for an experienced and commercially driven procurement professional to take ownership of a high-impact IT category within a forward-thinking organisation delivering essential services. This is an opportunity to shape sourcing strategy, influence senior stakeholders, and drive measurable value across a complex supplier landscape. You'll play a key role in ensuring that IT procurement delivers innovation, efficiency, and long-term commercial benefit.
Your new role
You will lead the full sourcing life cycle for IT spend, developing and delivering category strategies that balance value creation, cost optimisation, and risk management. Working closely with business leaders, you'll influence demand, drive smarter buying practices, and ensure best-in-class supplier performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement IT category and demand strategies aligned to business objectives
- Lead commercial activities across the sourcing life cycle, delivering value and minimising total cost of ownership
- Manage end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including tenders, negotiations, and contract awards
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and suppliers, influencing decision-making
- Drive cost reduction initiatives through standardisation, aggregation, and reduction of tail spend
- Manage a portfolio of IT suppliers, ensuring performance, innovation, and continuous improvement
- Ensure procurement activity is compliant with relevant regulations and statutory requirements
- Embed health, safety, and wellbeing considerations into sourcing and supplier selection processes
- Contribute to continuous improvement of procurement practices, tools, and governance
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
What you'll need to succeed
You're a confident and proactive procurement professional with a strong track record in IT category management or strategic sourcing. You'll bring:
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyse and present complex data clearly
- Excellent negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills
- Experience managing multiple work streams in a fast-paced environment
- Proven success delivering cost savings and value outcomes
- Knowledge of IT supply markets and/or regulated industry environments
- Experience working across multi-disciplinary teams and engaging senior stakeholders
- A resilient, self-starting mindset with a focus on continuous improvement


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Desirable Experience
- Understanding of regulated procurement environments
- Professional procurement qualifications (e.g. CIPS/MCIPS)
- Project management experience or certification
What you'll get in return
- Competitive benefits package
- 2-3 days a week in the office
- Salary range of £53,000 - £66,000 dependent on experience, plus bonus.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills