Interim IT Category Manager
Posted 1 day ago by Hays
£500 Per day
Outside
Hybrid
Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Summary: The Interim IT Category Manager will lead the IT category for a private sector professional services organization, focusing on software, hardware, cloud technologies, and IT professional services. This role involves managing end-to-end sourcing activities, leading negotiations, and collaborating with senior stakeholders to enhance procurement strategies. The position requires strong IT procurement experience and the ability to deliver outcomes quickly in a dynamic environment. The successful candidate will have a direct impact on the organization's procurement transformation and commercial governance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the IT category, covering software, hardware, cloud technologies, networks, and IT professional services.
- Manage end-to-end sourcing activity and lead commercial negotiations.
- Identify opportunities to improve cost, performance, and risk management across the supplier base.
- Collaborate with senior stakeholders to shape category strategy and provide commercial insight.
- Support procurement transformation and strengthen processes within the business.
Key Skills:
- Strong IT procurement experience in a complex private sector environment.
- Track record of delivering savings and improving supplier performance.
- Experience with SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, and managed services.
- Ability to engage with senior leaders and operate autonomously.
- Commercial rigor and stakeholder engagement skills.
Salary (Rate): £500.00/daily
City: Manchester
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: hybrid
IR35 Status: outside IR35
Seniority Level: Mid-Level
Industry: IT
Your new company You will join a private sector professional services organisation that is modernising its procurement approach and building stronger commercial governance across IT spend. The company operates in a fast moving, client driven environment where the ability to secure value, improve supplier relationships and support business growth is central to its strategy. This is a role where your expertise will have a direct and visible impact from day one.
Your new role You will lead the IT category, covering software, hardware, cloud technologies, networks and wider IT professional services. You will manage end-to-end sourcing activity, lead commercial negotiations and identify opportunities to improve cost, performance and risk management across the supplier base. The role requires close collaboration with senior stakeholders to shape category strategy and bring commercial insight to technology decisions. You will also support wider procurement transformation, strengthening processes and raising the profile of best practice procurement within the business. As an interim, you will be expected to pick up pace quickly and deliver outcomes without delay.
What you'll need to succeed You will bring strong IT procurement experience gained within a complex private sector environment, ideally within professional services or a similar sector where commercial rigour and stakeholder engagement are key. You will have a track record of delivering savings, improving supplier performance and driving better commercial controls across SaaS, cloud, infrastructure and managed services. You will be confident working with senior leaders, able to challenge constructively and comfortable operating with autonomy.
What you'll get in return You will receive a competitive day rate, hybrid working options and the opportunity to influence IT procurement during a period of meaningful change. The role offers exposure to senior leadership and the chance to contribute to strategic technology and procurement decisions.
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 on your career.
Desired Skills and Experience You will bring strong IT procurement experience gained within a complex private sector environment, ideally within professional services or a similar sector where commercial rigour and stakeholder engagement are key. You will have a track record of delivering savings, improving supplier performance and driving better commercial controls across SaaS, cloud, infrastructure and managed services. You will be confident working with senior leaders, able to challenge constructively and comfortable operating with autonomy.
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